ACT/SGER: (ACT - PHY) Characterizing Community Evolution and Communication Patterns in Social Networks

本研究的目标是开发一个探索性的项目，解决社会网络中群体和社区的沟通模式。将通过广泛的数据收集工作来调查网络拓扑和通信之间的相互作用，捕获每个人的详细时间相关通信活动。在这些测量的基础上，研究人员将探索管理社区和群体形成的基本机制以及相关的沟通模式。将特别注意社区结构中依赖时间的变化，并确定特定社区出现的可能性，从而区分普通社区和稀有社区。随着大多数技术、信息和社会系统的相互依存关系的发展，网络现已成为每个人的脑海中。以前互不相连的计算机和设备正在被连接起来；以前分散的信息被重新组织到统一的数据库中；地理上隔绝的具有共同兴趣的人形成了新的虚拟社区。网络的好处随之而来的是不可避免的漏洞，因为局部错误可能会沿着链路传播，最终变成全球故障。从最近的东北大停电到计算机和生物病毒造成的损害，例子很多。打击恐怖主义还带来了一些新的网络问题，从发现恐怖组织到制定战略削弱非法组织。为了促进对复杂相互关联系统的理解，拟议的研究将对社会网络中社区的形成和功能以及个人之间的标准交流模式进行深入和定量的描述。所获得的结果可能会对国家安全产生重大影响，并可能通过开发更好的工具来探索社交网络，从而产生长期的经济影响。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会和情报界联合支持。数学和物理科学局的反恐办法方案支持基础研究和劳动力发展方面的新概念，有可能对国家安全作出贡献。

The goal of the present research is to develop an exploratory program addressing the communication patterns of groups and communities in social networks. The interplay between network topology and communication will be investigated through extensive data collection efforts, capturing the detailed time dependent communication activity of each individual. Building on these measurements, the investigators will explore the basic mechanisms that govern community and group formation and the associated communication patterns. Particular attention will be paid to time dependent changes in the community structure and determining the likelihood of a given community's emergence, thereby distinguishing common from rare communities.With interdependencies developing in most technological, informational and social systems, networks are on everybody's mind these days. Previously unconnected computers and devices are being linked up; formerly scattered information is reorganized in consolidated databases; geographically isolated people with common interests form new virtual communities. The benefits of networks come with inevitable vulnerabilities, as local errors can propagate along the links, turning into global failures. Examples range from the recent Northeast blackout to computer and biological virus induced damages. Fighting terrorism also raises a number of novel networking problems, ranging from the discovery of terrorist cells to devising strategies to cripple an illegal organization. To advance the understanding of complex interconnected systems, the proposed research will develop a deep and quantitative description of the laws that govern the formation and function of communities in social networks and the standard communication patterns between individuals. The obtained results could have a strong impact on national security, and could have long range economic impact through the development of better tools to explore social networks.This award is supported jointly by the NSF and the Intelligence Community. The Approaches to Terrorism program in the Directorate for Mathematics and Physical Sciences supports new concepts in basic research and workforce development with the potential to contribute to national security.