A Random Network Ensemble Model Based Generalized Network Community Mining Algorithm

Abstract

The ability to discover community structures from explorative networks is useful for many applications. Most of the existing methods with regard to community mining are specifically designed for assortative networks, and some of them could be applied to address disassortative networks by means of intentionally modifying the objectives to be optimized. However, the types of the explorative networks are unknown beforehand. Consequently, it is difficult to determine what specific algorithms should be used to mine appropriate structures from exploratory networks. To address this issue, a novel concept, generalized community structure, has been proposed with the attempt to unify the two distinct counterparts in both types of networks. Furthermore, based on the proposed random network ensemble model, a generalized community mining algorithm, so called G-NCMA, has been proposed, which is promisingly suitable for both types of networks. Its performance has been rigorously tested, validated and compared with other related algorithms against real-world networks as well as synthetic networks. Experimental results show the G-NCMA algorithm is able to detect communities, without any prior, from explorative networks with a good accuracy.