Use-Case-Centric and Industry-Agnostic Architectural Patterns for Fog Systems

Fog computing has emerged as a promising paradigm for supporting applications based on edge and cloud computing by providing decentralized and intermediate computing, storage, and networking infrastructure. Fog computing is increasingly recognized as a critical enabler for modern Internet of Things (IoT) applications that require ultra-low latency, local resilience, and improved data privacy. However, designing effective fog systems remains a significant challenge due to the diversity of use case requirements, the immaturity of the domain, and a lack of systematic guidance. We therefore examine how to design effective fog systems. We adopt a use-case-centric and industry-agnostic perspective to develop a comprehensive set of architectural patterns for fog systems. Drawing on a systematic literature review and expert interviews, we identify critical fog use case characteristics, typical system tasks, and intermediary roles that fog nodes must perform. Based on these elements, we derive and refine architectural patterns that guide system architects in selecting and implementing suitable fog designs that are aligned with their specific use case objectives. Our contribution provides a structured framework for the principled design of fog systems and supports both researchers and practitioners in bridging the gap between abstract requirements and concrete system architectures.