A survey on integrated computing, caching, and communication in the cloud-to-edge continuum

Cloud and edge computing have proposed different functionalities to enable multiple applications requiring different communication, computing, and caching (3C) resources. The upcoming futuristic applications (e.g., metaverse, holographic, and haptic communication) impose further stringent requirements (e.g., ultra-low latency, ultra-high reliability) on the infrastructure. These requirements call for a paradigm shift in the infrastructure architecture where all resource components and owners collaborate from the cloud up to the edge, creating a cloud-to-edge continuum of integrated resources. Furthermore, we argue that artificial intelligence (AI) and collaborative-based decisions are promising techniques to efficiently manage the highly complex architecture that jointly leverages 3C in the continuum. This article presents a comprehensive survey of existing research, including AI and collaborative-based studies, targeting the effective and seamless provision of 3C resources and services in the cloud-to-edge continuum. Through an extensive analysis of driving use cases, the synergy between these three main services is scrutinized to highlight its crucial role in the next-generation network infrastructures (NGNI). Finally, a discussion on the opportunities and challenges brought by integrating 3C in NGNI from different perspectives, including architectural design as well as the regulatory and business aspects, are presented.