Discount allocation for cost minimization in online social networks (Q2025108)

This paper studies discount allocation for cost minimization in online social networks. It adopts the online full-feedback setting to the discount allocation problem in the online social networks. A utility function is introduced to influence a certain number of people who use the product with the minimal cost in expectation. Two algorithms in uniform and non-uniform discount situations are presented. In non-uniform discount model, discount is offered to selected users from lowest to highest in the discount rate set until the users become active. The performance of the algorithms are analyzed. The authors also present some numerical computations for the proposed algorithm. The datasets used are an online community interaction network and a scientific collaboration network relevant to co-authorship.