Introduction

Network processors allow to manipulate network links according to differences between partners regarding some node property. There is an agent component (MEgoNetworkManagerComp) that takes care of updating link weights and removing and establishing links if required.

Events and Processors

Predefined MoreEgoNetworkEvents:

• MLinkManagingEvent: Handles removing and creation of new links.
• MLinkWeightUpdatingEvent: Updates link weights.

  Predefined Processors

• MThresholdWeightProcessor: In case the node properties undergo a certain threshold (MNetManipulatePa#DYN_INCREASE_THRESHOLD), weights are increased by MNetManipulatePa#DYN_INCREASE_AMOUNT. As the opposite, if properties exceed a threshold MNetManipulatePa#DYN_INCREASE_THRESHOLD), weights get decreased by MNetManipulatePa#DYN_DECREASE_THRESHOLD.
• MThresholdLinkProcessor:
• MMilieuThresholdWeightProcessor: Considers milieu-specific parameter values for thresholds and change amounts.

Requirements for using network processors

• Agents need to be assigned the MEgoNetworkManagerComp.
• Agents need to implement MoreNetStructureManageable that provides access to the MEgoNetworkManagerComp.
• The network processor component is initialised...

  Map<MoreEgoNetworkEvent, MoreEgoNetworkProcessor<V, E>> map = MEgoNetworkManagerComp
                          .getEmptyProcessorMap();
  
  MoreNetworkEdgeModifier<V, E> edgeModifier = new MDefaultNetworkEdgeModifier<V; E>(new MDefaultEdgeFactory<V>());
  
  map.put(MLinkManagingEvent.getInstance(),
                  (Class<MoreEgoNetworkProcessor<V, E>>) DYN_EDGE_MANAGER);
  map.put(MLinkWeightUpdatingEvent.getInstance(),
                  ((Class<MoreEgoNetworkProcessor<V, E>>>) DYN_EDGE_WEIGHT_UPDATER);
  
  MoreEgoNetworkManagerComp<V, E> egoNetManager = new MEgoNetworkManagerComp<V, E>(map);
  

• ... and assigned to all agents:

  for (V agent : agents) {
          agent.setEgoNetworkManager(egoNetManager);
  }
  

• Agents need to call regularly the agent component's process method for certain events:

  getEgoNetworkManager().process(MLinkManagingEvent.getInstance(), this, getMainNetwork());
  

• Analysis

  In case an agent implements MoreLinkManipulationAnalysableAgent, some processors (e.g. MBlacklistThresholdLinkProcessor) provide information about link manipulations.