Understanding periodicity and regularity of nodal encounters in mobile networks: A spectral analysis

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the encounter patterns of mobile devices in large networks using spectral analysis, revealing distinct periodicity behaviors that inform the design of efficient message delivery schemes in mobile networks.

Contribution

It introduces the first large-scale spectral analysis of encounter periodicity in mobile networks and presents a method to identify regularly encountering node pairs.

Findings

Rarely encountering nodes show strong periodicity.

Frequent encounter nodes exhibit weaker periodicity.

A new method for detecting regular encounter pairs is proposed.

Abstract

Study on human mobility is gaining increasing attention from the research community with its multiple applications to use in mobile networks, particularly for the purpose of message delivery in the Delay Tolerant Networks. To better understand the potential of mobile nodes as message relays, our study investigates the encounter pattern of mobile devices. Specifically, we examine the extensive network traces that reflect mobility of communication devices. We analyze the periodicity in encounter pattern by using power spectral analysis. Strong periodicity was observed among rarely encountering mobile nodes while the periodicity was weaker among frequently encountering nodes. Further, we present a method to search regularly encountering pairs and discuss the findings. To our knowledge, we are the first to analyze the periodicity of encounter pattern with large network traces, which is a critical basis for designing an efficient delivery scheme using mobile nodes.