Random Network Plugin

Random Network Models

Currently the Random Network Plugin is capable of producing networks according to three different random network models:
  1. Erdős-Rényi Model: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erd%C5%91s%E2%80%93R%C3%A9nyi_model)
    • G(n,m):  Users specify both the number of nodes and the number of edges.  The algorithm randomly creates a network uniformly over all networks that have n nodes and m edges.
    • G(n,p) Users specify both the number of nodes and the probability of edge creation.  Each possible edge is independently created with probability p.

  2. Watts-Strogatz Model: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_and_Strogatz_model)
    • W(n,d, β): Works in two phases.  In the first phase the algorithm creates a complete lattice of n nodes is created where each edge is connected to d neighbors on its left and d neighbors on its right.  In the next phase edges are randomly shuffled with probability β, with the constraint that existing edges should not be replicated.

  3. Barabási-Albert Model: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barabasi-Albert_model)
    • B(n, i, d): Uses a preferential attachment method. First a complete initial seed network of i nodes is created. The remaining (n - i) nodes are added one at a time.  d edges are drawn to existing nodes, such that the probability of selecting an existing node u, is degree(u)/ 2 *E.  Where degree(u) is the number of edges incident to u and E is the number of current edges.