Influential node identification method based on multi-order neighbors and exclusive neighborhood

In a complex network, the identification of node influence and the localization of key nodes play a crucial role in analyzing network structure and determining the positioning of nodes for information transmission control, resource redistribution, and network regulation. In this study, we propose a method for identifying influential nodes called “Multi-order Neighbors and Exclusive Neighborhood” (MNEN) after analyzing and investigating existing methods in the field. The MNEN method calculates a node’s influence based on two factors: the node itself, its neighboring nodes, and its exclusive neighborhood. The influence of the node itself is determined by its degree value and K-shell (Ks) value, while the influence contribution of the neighbor node is calculated based on its degree value, Ks value, and the contribution from its exclusive neighbor node. To evaluate the algorithm’s performance, we employ the SIR model as the benchmark and conduct simulation experiments to validate the MNEN method, comparing the results with other influential node identification methods. Our analysis demonstrates that the algorithm accurately identifies influential nodes in networks of different scales, yielding a positive overall impact and demonstrating a certain level of universality.