A Dynamic Clustering Framework for Intelligent Task Orchestration in Mobile Edge Computing

Mobile edge computing (MEC) enables resource-constrained mobile devices to execute delay-sensitive and compute-intensive applications by offloading tasks to nearby edge servers. However, task orchestration in MEC is challenged by the highly dynamic system conditions, unreliable networks, and the distributed edge environments. Moreover, as the number of users, tasks, and resources increases, the offloading decision-making problem becomes increasingly complex due to the exponential growth of the search space. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Multi-Criteria Hierarchical Clustering-based Task Orchestrator (MCHC-TO), a novel framework that integrates multi-criteria decision making with divisive hierarchical clustering for preference-aware and adaptive workload orchestration. Edge servers are first evaluated using multiple decision criteria, and the resulting preference rankings are exploited to form hierarchical preference-based clusters. Incoming tasks are then assigned to the most suitable cluster based on task requirements, enabling efficient resource utilization and dynamic decision making. Extensive simulations conducted using an edge computing simulator demonstrate that the proposed MCHC-TO framework consistently outperforms benchmark approaches, achieving reductions in average service delay and task failure rate of up to 48% and 92%, respectively. These results highlight the effectiveness of combining multi-criteria evaluation with hierarchical clustering for robust and dynamic task orchestration in MEC environments.