Dynamics of gossip-like information dissemination in complex computer networks

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of a gossip-like process for information dissemination in complex computer networks. We perform large-scale Monte Carlo simulations of this process on top of a scale-free network topology, as a prototype model of networks with strongly heterogeneous degree distributions, and compare the results with simulations performed for random graphs, which have a homogeneous degree distribution. In addition to the above static networks, we also investigate the spreading process on time-dependent networks created by mobile wireless nodes (mobile adhoc networks). Our study provides new insights on how the dissemination dynamics is affected by the complex interplay between network structure, mobility and the spreading process. Our results are also relevant to other complex networks where gossip-like information dissemination takes place.

Keywords:

• complex networks
• stochastic procecess
• gossip protocls
• distributed computing