Micro Datacenter (Cloudlets) for Mobile Computing

Computer Engineering Seminar Series

Victor Bahl (Microsoft Research)
Micro Datacenter (Cloudlets) for Mobile Computing

Abstract: Resource poverty is a fundamental constraint that severely limits the class of applications that can be run on mobile devices. This constraint is not just a temporary limitation of current technology, but is intrinsic to mobility. In this talk I will put forth a vision of mobile computing that breaks free of this fundamental constraint. In this vision, mobile users seamlessly utilize nearby computers to obtain the resource benefits of cloud computing without incurring WAN delays and jitter. Rather than relying on a distant "cloud," a mobile user connects to a micro datacenter (mDC) or Cloudlet and uses it. Crisp interactive response for immersive applications that augment human cognition is then much easier to achieve because of the proximity of the mDC. While much remains to be done, the concepts and ideas introduced here open the door to a new world of disaggregated computing in which seamless cognitive assistance of users occurs in diverse ways at any time and place

Bio: Victor Bahl is a Principal Researcher and Director of the Mobility & Networking Research (MNR) Group in Microsoft Research. MNR's mission is "to invent & research technologies that make Microsoft's networks, services and devices indispensable to the world". In addition to pursuing research and shepherding brilliant researchers, Victor helps shape Microsoft's long-term vision related to networking technologies by advising Microsoft's senior executive team and through associated policy engagement with governments and industries around the world. He and his group have had far-reaching impact on the research community, Government policy, and Microsoft products through many significant technology transfers. His personal research spans a variety of topics in mobile computing, wireless systems, cloud services and datacenter networking & management. Over his career he has built many highly cited seminal systems, published prolifically in top conferences and journals, authored over 110 patents, given over 35 keynote talks, won numerous awards and honors including ACM SIGMOBILE's Lifetime Achievement (Outstanding Contributions) Award and IEEE Outstanding Leadership and Professional Service Award, and has engaged in significant professional and company-wide leadership activities. Victor received his PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1997. He is a Fellow of the ACM, IEEE and AAAS. You can read more about him on his web page: http://research.microsoft.com/~bahl

Date: October 3, 2014
Time and Location: 1:30pm ~ 2:30pm, Becton Seminar Room

http://caslab.eng.yale.edu/seminars/AY14-15_CE_Seminar/#oct3