Network classification using adjacency matrix embeddings and deep learning

We study a natural problem: Given a small piece of a large parent network, is it possible to identify the parent network? We approach this problem from two perspectives. First, using several “sophisticated” or “classical” network features that have been developed over decades of social network study. These features measure aggregate properties of the network and have been found to take on distinctive values for different types of network, at the large scale. By using these classical features within a standard machine learning framework, we show that one can identify large parent networks from small (even 8-node) subgraphs. Second, we present a novel adjacency matrix embedding technique which converts the small piece of the network into an image and, within a deep learning framework, we are able to obtain prediction accuracies upward of 80%, which is comparable to or slightly better than the performance from classical features. Our approach provides a new tool for topology-based prediction which may be of interest in other network settings. Our approach is plug and play, and can be used by non-domain experts. It is an appealing alternative to the often arduous task of creating domain specific features using domain expertise.