X-MAPE: Extending 6G-Connected Self-Adaptive Systems with Reflexive Actions

Future connected applications require distributed processing on different layers in the network to orchestrate and optimize their behavior. This necessitates a change in the processing architecture, especially regarding the ability to self-adapt to changing circumstances, such as environmental changes or fault scenarios. Self-adaptivity in computing systems was previously often achieved with the MAPE-K concept. However, in real-time and low-latency environments with a distributed, hierarchical processing architecture, the reaction time of the MAPE-K cycle can be limited by its complexity. In this paper, we propose a possible solution to a quicker reaction by introducing X-MAPE: extending self-adaptivity with predefined, configurable, reflexive actions. In essence, X-MAPE aims to construct a low-latency path between monitoring the system and executing actions to influence it, to reflexively react to a changing system state and improving the system's behavior until a more optimal decision can be made in a less time-critical manner. We present possible realizations of this principle on different layers and components of future 6G networks, providing a vision and framework for adaptive computing systems with reflexive reactions.