A Framework for Cooperative Resource Management in Mobile Cloud Computing

Mobile cloud computing is an emerging technology to improve the quality of mobile services. In this paper, we consider the resource (i.e., radio and computing resources) sharing problem to support mobile applications in a mobile cloud computing environment. In such an environment, mobile cloud service providers can cooperate (i.e., form a coalition) to create a resource pool to share their own resources with each other. As a result, the resources can be better utilized and the revenue of the mobile cloud service providers can be increased. To maximize the benefit of the mobile cloud service providers, we propose a framework for resource allocation to the mobile applications, and revenue management and cooperation formation among service providers. For resource allocation to the mobile applications, we formulate and solve optimization models to obtain the optimal number of application instances that can be supported to maximize the revenue of the service providers while meeting the resource requirements of the mobile applications. For sharing the revenue generated from the resource pool (i.e., revenue management) among the cooperative mobile cloud service providers in a coalition, we apply the concepts of core and Shapley value from cooperative game theory as a solution. Based on the revenue shares, the mobile cloud service providers can decide whether to cooperate and share the resources in the resource pool or not. Also, the provider can optimize the decision on the amount of resources to contribute to the resource pool.