An extended self-representation model of complex networks for link prediction

As a fundamental problem in network science, link prediction is both theoretically significant and practically useful. Many existing link prediction algorithms rely on predefined assumptions about the link formation mechanism of the network, limiting their generalizability. The recently proposed Network Self-Representation (NSR) model avoids such predefined assumptions by representing the likelihood of link existence between two nodes as a linear transformation of their neighboring connections, resulting in a more generic link prediction approach. To further improve the self-learning capability, this study proposes an Extended Network Self-Representation (ENSR) model. Instead of leveraging a linear transformation as the NSR function, the ENSR model considers the likelihood of link existence as a general function of the adjacency matrix. This study further formulates the ENSR model as an optimization model and analytically derives a critical property of its optimal solution, based on which the optimal ENSR function is approximated by polynomial regression. Experiments on 15 real-world networks show that our proposed ENSR model achieves better link prediction performance than the NSR model as well as several other benchmark algorithms. Notably, the ENSR function's coefficients match the contributions of multi-hop paths to link prediction. In most cases, the self-learned coefficients by the ENSR model align with the predefined assumptions of the second-best link prediction algorithms, which implies that the ENSR model can adaptively discover the underlying link formation mechanisms of complex networks. •Link existence likelihood is modeled as a general function of the adjacency matrix.•The property of the optimal self-representation function is analytically derived.•Better link prediction performance is achieved.•The proposed model can adaptively discover the link formation mechanisms.