# Beyond Model Scale Limits: End-Edge-Cloud Federated Learning with Self-Rectified Knowledge Agglomeration

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.00693 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.00693/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 25 of its 46 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 1 Jan 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 25 of 25)

- [Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1512.03385/) (2015)
- [Communication-Efficient Learning of Deep Networks from Decentralized Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1602.05629/) (2016)
- [Federated Optimization in Heterogeneous Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1812.06127/) (2018)
- [Federated Learning on Non-IID Data Silos: An Experimental Study](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.02079/) (2021)
- [Knowledge Distillation and Student-Teacher Learning for Visual Intelligence: A Review and New Outlooks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.05937/) (2020)
- [FedML: A Research Library and Benchmark for Federated Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.13518/) (2020)
- [Federated Learning for Internet of Things: A Comprehensive Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.07914/) (2021)
- [Client-Edge-Cloud Hierarchical Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1905.06641/) (2019)
- [Large scale distributed neural network training through online distillation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1804.03235/) (2018)
- [FedRolex: Model-Heterogeneous Federated Learning with Rolling Sub-Model Extraction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.01548/) (2022)
- [Heterogeneous Ensemble Knowledge Transfer for Training Large Models in Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.12703/) (2022)
- [FedGH: Heterogeneous Federated Learning with Generalized Global Header](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.13137/) (2023)
- [FedGEMS: Federated Learning of Larger Server Models via Selective Knowledge Fusion](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.11027/) (2021)
- [Hierarchical Federated Learning with Quantization: Convergence Analysis and System Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.14272/) (2021)
- [Towards Model Agnostic Federated Learning Using Knowledge Distillation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.15210/) (2021)
- [Federated Edge Learning : Design Issues and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.00081/) (2020)
- [Exploring the Distributed Knowledge Congruence in Proxy-data-free Federated Distillation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.07028/) (2022)
- [Pervasive AI for IoT applications: A Survey on Resource-efficient Distributed Artificial Intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.01798/) (2021)
- [FedICT: Federated Multi-task Distillation for Multi-access Edge Computing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.00389/) (2023)
- [FedCache: A Knowledge Cache-driven Federated Learning Architecture for Personalized Edge Intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.07816/) (2023)
- [Self-organizing Democratized Learning: Towards Large-scale Distributed Learning Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.03278/) (2020)
- [Agglomerative Federated Learning: Empowering Larger Model Training via End-Edge-Cloud Collaboration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.11489/) (2023)
- [Follow Me at the Edge: Mobility-Aware Dynamic Service Placement for Mobile Edge Computing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1809.05239/) (2018)
- [Hierarchical Federated Learning with Momentum Acceleration in Multi-Tier Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.14560/) (2022)
- [FedDCT: Federated Learning of Large Convolutional Neural Networks on Resource Constrained Devices using Divide and Collaborative Training](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.10948/) (2022)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Recursive Offloading for LLM Serving in Multi-tier Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.16502/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The rise of End-Edge-Cloud Collaboration (EECC) offers a promising paradigm for Artificial Intelligence (AI) model training across end devices, edge servers, and cloud data centers, providing enhanced reliability and reduced latency. Hierarchical Federated Learning (HFL) can benefit from this paradigm by enabling multi-tier model aggregation across distributed computing nodes. However, the potential of HFL is significantly constrained by the inherent heterogeneity and dynamic characteristics of EECC environments. Specifically, the uniform model structure bounded by the least powerful end device across all computing nodes imposes a performance bottleneck. Meanwhile, coupled heterogeneity in data distributions and resource capabilities across tiers disrupts hierarchical knowledge transfer, leading to biased updates and degraded performance. Furthermore, the mobility and fluctuating connectivity of computing nodes in EECC environments introduce complexities in dynamic node migration, further compromising the robustness of the training process. To address multiple challenges within a unified framework, we propose End-Edge-Cloud Federated Learning with Self-Rectified Knowledge Agglomeration (FedEEC), which is a novel EECC-empowered FL framework that allows the trained models from end, edge, to cloud to grow larger in size and stronger in generalization ability. FedEEC introduces two key innovations: (1) Bridge Sample Based Online Distillation Protocol (BSBODP), which enables knowledge transfer between neighboring nodes through generated bridge samples, and (2) Self-Knowledge Rectification (SKR), which refines the transferred knowledge to prevent suboptimal cloud model optimization. The proposed framework effectively handles both cross-tier resource heterogeneity and effective knowledge transfer between neighboring nodes, while satisfying the migration-resilient requirements of EECC.