Blockchain-Enhanced Fair Task Scheduling for Cloud-Fog-Edge Coordination Environments: Model and Algorithm

The cloud-fog-edge hybrid system is the evolution of the traditional centralized cloud computing model. Through the combination of different levels of resources, it is able to handle service requests from terminal users with a lower latency. However, it is accompanied by greater uncertainty, unreliability, and instability due to the decentralization and regionalization of service processing, as well as the unreasonable and unfairness in resource allocation, task scheduling, and coordination, caused by the autonomy of node distribution. Therefore, this paper introduces blockchain technology to construct a trust-enabled interaction framework in a cloud-fog-edge environment, and through a double-chain structure, it improves the reliability and verifiability of task processing without a big management overhead. Furthermore, in order to fully consider the reasonability and load balance in service coordination and task scheduling, Berger’s model and the conception of service justice are introduced to perform reasonable matching of tasks and resources. We have developed a trust-based cloud-fog-edge service simulation system based on iFogsim, and through a large number of experiments, the performance of the proposed model is verified in terms of makespan, scheduling success rate, latency, and user satisfaction with some classical scheduling models.

Pallet Scheduling Models Under Deterministic and Non-Deterministic Scenarios Using a Hybrid GA Method

This study examines the pallet scheduling problem considering random demands under the novel pallet operation mechanism by resources sharing among the pallet sharing system. Two nonlinear integer pallet scheduling models under deterministic and non-deterministic environment are formulated in terms of the pallet demand variable. To solve the pallet programming model, the hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) integrating local search strategy is designed to derive the optimal pallet scheduling solution. Besides, the fixed sample size sampling strategy is employed to deal with the uncertain demand during the non-deterministic programming model, realized by the Monte Carlo simulation. The two models can assist decision makers arrange a scientific pallet scheduling solution under deterministic and non-deterministic atmosphere. Finally, the numerical case is implemented to testify the effectiveness of the two models and efficiency of the hybrid algorithms.

Research on Multi-Timescale Coordinated Method for Source-Grid-Load with Uncertain Renewable Energy Considering Demand Response

The high penetration of renewable energy brings great challenges to power system operation and scheduling. In this paper, a multi-timescale coordinated method for source-grid-load is proposed. First, the multi-timescale characteristics of wind forecasting power and demand response (DR) resources are described, and the coordinated framework of source-grid-load is presented under multi-timescale. Next, economic scheduling models of source-grid-load based on multi-timescale DR under network constraints are established in the process of day-ahead scheduling, intraday scheduling, and real-time scheduling. The loads are classified into three types in terms of different timescale. The security constraints of grid side and time-varying DR potential are considered. Three-stage stochastic programming is employed to schedule resources of source side and load side in day-ahead, intraday, and real-time markets. The simulations are performed in a modified Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 24-node system, which shows a notable reduction in total cost of source-grid-load scheduling and an increase in wind accommodation, and their results are proposed and discussed against under merely two timescales, which demonstrates the superiority of the proposed multi-timescale models in terms of cost and demand response quantity reduction.

A new scheduling method based on sequential time windows developed to distribute first-aid medicine for emergency logistics following an earthquake

After an earthquake, affected areas have insufficient medicinal supplies, thereby necessitating substantial distribution of first-aid medicine from other supply centers. To make a proper distribution schedule, we considered the timing of supply and demand. In the present study, a “sequential time window” is used to describe the time to generate of supply and demand and the time of supply delivery. Then, considering the sequential time window, we proposed two multiobjective scheduling models with the consideration of demand uncertainty; two multiobjective stochastic programming models were also proposed to solve the scheduling models. Moreover, this paper describes a simulation that was performed based on a first-aid medicine distribution problem during a Wenchuan earthquake response. The simulation results show that the methodologies proposed in this paper provide effective schedules for the distribution of first-aid medicine. The developed distribution schedule enables some supplies in the former time windows to be used in latter time windows. This schedule increases the utility of limited stocks and avoids the risk that all the supplies are used in the short-term, leaving no supplies for long-term use.