PhD Project in Chatbot for Dynamic Data-Oriented Serverless Edge Computing

Edge computing can support Web services with fast response time and low bandwidth usage by moving computation from the Cloud to machines that are located close/on the Edge (i.e., close/at the end-users’ devices). The existing Edge computing frameworks support the design and the deployment of services that are deployed/bound to specific machines on the Edge. In this case, service developers should statically define/decide at the development time of their software what services should be deployed on what type of machines on the Edge. However, services may not be able to run on machines on the Edge that are usually resource constrained. The performance of services depends not only on their particular development details but also on their particular runtime use (e.g., dependence on the exchanged data) that cannot be known at the development time of the services. Thus, the project faces the challenge of redesigning/designing service-oriented software at runtime to make it deployable to the Edge

To address the challenge of runtime deployment decisions, the project focuses on the programming model of the Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) in serverless computing. The FaaS model is suitable for Edge computing because it is based on nanoservices. Nanoservices are very light-weight (micro)services whose programming interfaces provide a very small number of functions. Nanoservices can be executed on resource-constrained machines at the Edge. The FaaS model is suitable for composing nanoservices, given that the software built by developers is usually composed of multiple services.

However, developers do not necessarily build services that are nanoservices and especially, the built services are not necessarily deployable at the Edge. Moreover, the nanoservice composition should be dynamic in order to address the challenge of runtime deployment decisions. In particular, alternative nanoservices deployed on various machines on the Edge should be dynamically selected depending on the exchanged data and the used machines. The alternative nanoservices should provide the same functionality to each other so they can be interchangeably used by the service-oriented software built by developers. In other words, the dynamic data-oriented (i.e., based on the exchanged data) composition of nanoservices is required.

The project proposes automatic mechanisms that design/redesign existing service-oriented software into nanoservices. The produced nanoservices are designed in such a way that follow the FaaS model of serverless computing. Moreover, the project involves mechanisms that dynamically compose/recompose nanoservices depending on the exchanged data and the used machines on the Edge. A chatbot could help developers via conversations in designing/redesigning their software using nanoservices. We will propose a chatbot that facilitates the design of nanoservices

Funding Information

To be eligible for consideration for a Home DfE or EPSRC Studentship (covering tuition fees and maintenance stipend of approx. £19,237 per annum), a candidate must satisfy all the eligibility criteria based on nationality, residency and academic qualifications.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria and the associated residency requirements:

• Be a UK National,
or • Have settled status,
or • Have pre-settled status,
or • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter the UK.

Candidates from ROI may also qualify for Home student funding.

Previous PhD study MAY make you ineligible to be considered for funding.

Please note that other terms and conditions also apply.

Please note that any available PhD studentships will be allocated on a competitive basis across a number of projects currently being advertised by the School.

A small number of international awards will be available for allocation across the School. An international award is not guaranteed to be available for this project, and competition across the School for these awards will be highly competitive.

Academic Requirements:

The minimum academic requirement for admission is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI Higher Education provider in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

Entrance requirements

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.