Information transport in multiplex networks

TL;DR

This study investigates how information is transported in multiplex networks with coupled logical and physical layers, optimizing parameters for maximum efficiency and robustness against attacks.

Contribution

It introduces a model combining shortest path routing with biased random walks and analyzes the effects of network coupling and homogeneity on transmission performance.

Findings

Optimal bias parameter $eta$ maximizes network lifetime and packet flow.

Assortative coupling outperforms other coupling types in transmission efficiency.

Homogeneous physical layer improves transmission, opposite for logical layer.

Abstract

In this paper, we study information transport in multiplex networks comprised of two coupled subnetworks. The upper subnetwork, called the logical layer, employs the shortest paths protocol to determine the logical paths for packets transmission, while the lower subnetwork acts as the physical layer, in which packets are delivered by the biased random walk mechanism characterized with a parameter $\alpha$. Through simulation, we obtain the optimal $\alpha$ corresponding to the maximum network lifetime and the maximum number of the arrival packets. Assortative coupling is better than the random coupling and the disassortative coupling, since it achieves much better transmission performances. Generally, the more homogeneous the lower subnetwork, the better the transmission performances are, which is opposite for the upper subnetwork. Finally, we propose an attack centrality for nodes based on the topological information of both subnetworks, and further investigate the transmission performances under targeted attacks. Our work helps to understand the spreading and robustness issues of multiplex networks and provides some clues about the designing of more efficient and robust routing architectures in communication systems.