As the volume of information flowing through the world wide web has grown, the challenge has become less one of gathering enough information, but filtering the value from the noise.  Researchers from North Carolina State University believe they’ve developed a new model to help do that, and simultaneously help to disseminate accurate information quickly through networks such as the web and the IoT.

“Whether in the IoT or on social networks, there are many circumstances where old information is circulating and could cause problems – whether it’s old security data or a misleading rumor,” the researchers explain. “Our work here includes a new model and related analysis of how new data can displace old data in these networks.”

Out with the old

Central to their approach is the ability to push out old information that’s no longer relevant, and replace it with fresh, new, and relevant information.  The research shows that the size of a network has an impact on how quickly this process takes place, with the speed with which good data travels the primary factor involved in a rapid transition.

The research shows that if a network is highly interconnected, it can disseminate new data very quickly, with larger networks generally conducive to the fast spread of new data.  However, if networks are connected by a limited number of crucial nodes, those nodes can often become a bottleneck, which slows the spread of data.

The research also utilized an algorithm to assess the optimal point in a network for information to be introduced to ensure its rapid spread throughout the network.

“Practically speaking, this could be used to ensure that an IoT network purges old data as quickly as possible and is operating with new, accurate data,” the researchers conclude.  “But these findings are also applicable to online social networks, and could be used to facilitate the spread of accurate information regarding subjects that affect the public.”