Human Movement Models in Mobile Social Networks

Abstract

Mobile social networks (MSNs) are modern paradigms of delay tolerant networks (DTNs) that consist of mobile users with social characteristics. Performance of data forwarding protocols in this setting relies heavily on reality of mobility models. In MSNs, mobile devices are carried by humans, hence their long-term mobility characteristics such as their relationships, interests, and similarities can be exploited to design social-aware protocols in MSNs. Several social-based human movement models have been proposed by research community to handle realistic mobility scenarios. In this paper, social parameters of human mobility models including spatio-temporal and connectivity properties are identified. Then, state-of-the art synthetic movement models are introduced and their important characteristics are featured. To conclude, some major open research issues are outlined.