BOOK CHAPTER: Cloud Computing – Future of the Past
Abstract
The growth pattern of mobile devices and wireless network technologies leads to revolutionized communication markets with constant advancements (e.g., partly realized 4G and yet-awaited 5G wireless networks, content centric networking, and mobile cloud computing). From the thin-client paradigm of the early computing history, where the bulk of the computing power was on the server side, we have witnessed a rapid transformation to powerful mobile end-user devices with ubiquitous connectivity. The cloud-computing paradigm is now promising to bridge those two ends in order to combine the best of both worlds. This chapter presents: 1) basic concepts of cloud computing in examining the different perspectives of stakeholders in the cloud market, 2) survey of existing approaches and solutions, 3) applications of cloud computing, 4) architectural approaches to cloud computing, including traditional and mobile cloud architectures, and 5) an overview of the related Software-Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualization concepts.