Modeling temporal propagation dynamics in multiplex networks

Abstract

We tackle the issue of modeling the temporal propagation dynamics in multiplex networks where agents are connected by multiple linking types. As information can be disseminated across multiple layers, cross-layer delay is one of the main aspects of temporal dynamics apart from the intra-layer delay between agents in each layer. First, the independent cascade model is generalized to multiplex networks incorporating the two aspects of temporal dynamics. Then, numerical modeling based on the mean-filed assumption is proposed to grasp the macroscopic behaviors of temporal propagation dynamics in multiplex networks, and the microcosmic influence of the two aspects of temporal dynamics is discussed with the aid of two simple case studies. By contrast to the multi-agent simulation, numerical modeling can predict the propagation in multiplex networks by a slight margin. Moreover, we show that the two aspects of temporal dynamics can dramatically vary the influence of multiple layers on information spreading in multiplex networks.