  The Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) paradigm has a lot of potential as a
computing model for fog environments comprising both cloud and edge nodes, as
compute requests can be scheduled across the entire fog continuum in a
fine-grained manner. When the request rate exceeds capacity limits at the
resource-constrained edge, some functions need to be offloaded towards the
cloud.
  In this paper, we present an auction-inspired approach in which application
developers bid on resources while fog nodes decide locally which functions to
execute and which to offload in order to maximize revenue. Unlike many current
approaches to function placement in the fog, our approach can work in an online
and decentralized manner. We also present our proof-of-concept prototype
AuctionWhisk that illustrates how such an approach can be implemented in a real
FaaS platform. Through a number of simulation runs and system experiments, we
show that revenue for overloaded nodes can be maximized without dropping
function requests.
