Task-Oriented Edge Metaverse for Smart Cities and Critical Systems

Background:

Smart cities and industrial IoT networks demand real-time coordination and visualization across distributed assets. However, conventional cloud-based digital twin systems suffer from latency (100+ ms), bandwidth bottlenecks, and limited cross-domain integration. Centralized architectures and heavy blockchain solutions cannot meet the low-latency, high-trust requirements of applications such as public safety, grid control, and emergency response. A lightweight, edge-driven, task-specific framework is needed to provide secure, collaborative decision-making environments close to the data source.

Technology Overview:

The “Microverse” is a distributed edge–fog–cloud system that spins up a per-task digital twin aligned with a 5G/IoT network slice. Each slice enforces quality of service (QoS) tailored to the operational objective, orchestrates real-time data flow and fusion at the edge, and deploys a micro-blockchain for tamper-evident coordination during the task window. A semantic application layer presents the twin via immersive VR/AR interfaces for spatially aware monitoring and control. The system performs inference and analytics locally at the edge for millisecond response times while using the cloud for historical data and training. When the task ends, both the slice twin and its micro-chain dissolve—reducing overhead, preserving privacy, and minimizing attack surface.

Advantages:

• Achieves millisecond-class latency through localized edge/fog execution
• Task-based network slicing with QoS aligned to operational goals and SLAs
• Temporary digital twins reduce system complexity and data retention risk
• Lightweight micro-blockchain for secure, tamper-evident coordination
• Cross-domain data fusion without central operator dependency
• Bandwidth efficiency by processing and filtering at the edge
• Immersive VR/AR decision spaces for real-time, spatially aware collaboration
• Reduced cybersecurity risk via disposable architecture design

Applications:

• Home health and eldercare: edge slices fuse wearable and environmental data for millisecond anomaly detection and HIPAA-compliant logging
• Critical infrastructure: power and industrial assets share predictive maintenance and secure AR-guided repair workflows
• Public safety: multi-agency incident microverses fuse sensors, drones, and cameras for real-time response and verifiable records
• Smart transportation: live corridor twins coordinate AV fleets and traffic systems for congestion and safety management
• Precision agriculture: on-site fusion of soil, weather, and imaging sensors for instant irrigation or hazard alerts
• Training and remote collaboration: VR/AR-based microverses support simulation, after-action reviews, and live data replays

Intellectual Property Summary:

• US Provisional Application 63/757,781 – Filed February 12, 2025
• US Utility Application – Filed September 4, 2025 (Status: Filed)

Stage of Development:

Prototype validation – Demonstrated simulated and small-scale edge deployments achieving sub-second closed-loop actions and task-scoped blockchain logging. TRL ~4–5.

Licensing Status:

This technology is available for licensing.

Licensing Potential:

Strong potential for smart city developers, IoT integrators, and defense or industrial partners seeking low-latency, secure, and adaptive edge computing solutions for mission-critical coordination.

Additional Information:

Simulation datasets, VR/AR interface specifications, and edge-fusion architecture details available upon request.