Node influence identification via resource allocation dynamics

Abstract

Identifying the node influence in complex networks is an important task to optimally use the network structure and ensure the more efficient spreading in information. In this paper, by taking into account the resource allocation dynamics (RAD) and the k-shell decomposition method, we present an improved method namely RAD to generate the ranking list to evaluate the node influence. First, comparing with the epidemic process results for four real networks, the RAD method could identify the node influence more accurate than the ones generated by the topology-based measures including the degree, k-shell, closeness and the betweenness. Then, a growing scale-free network model with tunable assortative coefficient is introduced to analyze the effect of the assortative coefficient on the accuracy of the RAD method. Finally, the positive correlation is found between the RAD method and the k-shell values which display an exponential form. This work would be helpful for deeply understanding the node influence of a network.