Resource-Aware Deep Reinforcement Learning for Joint Caching and Service Placement in Multi-Access Edge Computing

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) enables low-latency service provisioning by placing computation closer to mobile users. However, efficient service placement remains challenging due to dynamic user mobility, limited edge resources, and the need to manage service migration as system conditions evolve. This study proposes a resource-aware, cache-enabled service placement framework based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to dynamically select edge nodes for hosting services. The approach jointly considers user location, resource availability, and cache status within a unified decision framework, enabling efficient and adaptive service placement in dynamic MEC environments. The problem is formulated as a Markov decision process (MDP) and solved using deep Q-network (DQN)-based methods, with a reward function that balances latency, resource utilization, and cache efficiency. The proposed framework is evaluated in a simulated MEC environment with mobile users and multiple edge nodes. Experimental results demonstrate that the approach achieves lower latency, improved resource utilization, and enhanced cache efficiency compared to baseline strategies. Among the evaluated models, the dueling double deep Q-network (DDDQN) achieves the most balanced overall performance. The proposed framework provides an adaptive and scalable solution for service management in dynamic MEC environments.