Correlated dynamics in egocentric communication networks

TL;DR

This study analyzes the temporal and topological structure of communication sequences in egocentric networks, revealing that bursty trains are link-specific and influenced by communication mode and human behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a model that reproduces observed communication patterns, linking burstiness to link properties and communication mode effects.

Findings

Burst trains typically involve pairs of individuals rather than a single node's neighbors.

Voice call trains show significant directional imbalance, unlike short message trains.

The proposed model captures the empirical communication dynamics effectively.

Abstract

We investigate the communication sequences of millions of people through two different channels and analyze the fine grained temporal structure of correlated event trains induced by single individuals. By focusing on correlations between the heterogeneous dynamics and the topology of egocentric networks we find that the bursty trains usually evolve for pairs of individuals rather than for the ego and his/her several neighbors thus burstiness is a property of the links rather than of the nodes. We compare the directional balance of calls and short messages within bursty trains to the average on the actual link and show that for the trains of voice calls the imbalance is significantly enhanced, while for short messages the balance within the trains increases. These effects can be partly traced back to the technological constrains (for short messages) and partly to the human behavioral features (voice calls). We define a model that is able to reproduce the empirical results and may help us to understand better the mechanisms driving technology mediated human communication dynamics.