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Models, Entropy and Information of Temporal Social Networks

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Temporal Networks

Part of the book series: Understanding Complex Systems ((UCS))

Abstract

Temporal social networks are characterized by heterogeneous duration of contacts, which can either follow a power-law distribution, such as in face-to-face interactions, or a Weibull distribution, such as in mobile-phone communication. Here we model the dynamics of face-to-face interaction and mobile phone communication by a reinforcement dynamics, which explains the data observed in these different types of social interactions. We quantify the information encoded in the dynamics of these networks by the entropy of temporal networks. Finally, we show evidence that human dynamics is able to modulate the information present in social network dynamics when it follows circadian rhythms and when it is interfacing with a new technology such as the mobile-phone communication technology.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Barrat and J. Stehlé for a collaboration that started our research on face-to-face interactions. Moreover we especially thank A.-L. Barabási for his useful comments and for the mobile call data used in this research. MK acknowledges the financial support from EUs 7th Framework Programs FET-Open to ICTeCollective project no. 238597.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Northeastern University, Boston, 02115, MA, USA

    Kun Zhao

  2. BECS, School of Science, Aalto University, Aalto, Finland

    Márton Karsai

  3. School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK

    Ginestra Bianconi

Authors
  1. Kun Zhao
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  2. Márton Karsai
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  3. Ginestra Bianconi
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Correspondence to Ginestra Bianconi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ice Lab, Department of Physics, Umeå University, Ice Lab, 3rd floor, NA wing, Naturvetarhuset, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden

    Petter Holme

  2. and Computational Sciences (BECS), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio, Otaniemi campus 2, Aalto, 00076, Finland

    Jari Saramäki

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Zhao, K., Karsai, M., Bianconi, G. (2013). Models, Entropy and Information of Temporal Social Networks. In: Holme, P., Saramäki, J. (eds) Temporal Networks. Understanding Complex Systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36461-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36461-7_5

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