Evolution of Resource Sharing Cooperation Based on Reciprocity in Social Networks

Peer-to-peer (P2P) social networks rely on voluntary resource contributions of peers, understanding and maximizing the effects of resource allocation mechanisms on resource con- tribution of peers have been a focus in such networks. In most of proposed research, the resource sharing dilemma is always modeled by a two-player donor-recipient game in which peers are limited to binary decision (e.g., contribute or not). However, in addition to contributing to multiple recipients simultaneously, a peer also can determine its contribution level in networks. In this paper, we first formulated the resource sharing transaction among a group of peers as a multi-player donor-recipient game with multiple strategies which signify contribution willingness of peers. Then, we studied the influences of two reciprocity based allocation mechanisms in which peers are served based on their direct and total contributions, on the evolution of peers' contribution strategies. Moreover, the influences of some common behaviors of peers (e.g., leave- rejoin and irrational behaviors, slandering behaviors in reporting others' contribution) are also studied. The research is expected to provide valuable information for resource allocation mechanism design in social networks.