Guest Editorial: Social-Aware Communication Networks and Systems and Innovative Social Network Applications and Services

Malamati D. Louta, Chiara Boldrini, Francesco Bonchi, Symeon Papavassiliou, De-Nian Yang

Abstract: Welcome to the Feature Topic (FT) of Social-Aware Communication Networks and Systems and Innovative Social Network Application and Services of the IEEE Communications Magazine. Social dimension in conjunction with physical proximity offer a wealth of information that could be exploited across multiple disciplines and for a wide range of challenges. Without being exhaustive, developing social-aware networking algorithms for improving various networking operations, designing incentive mechanisms for promoting cooperation and establishing trust in order to address security concerns in open, uncertain and competitive environments, identifying graph topology structure as well as its evolution, along with influence paths for maximizing the impact of information dissemination and exploring decision making process in a social psychology context are prominent examples of social-aware networks and advanced applications. Yet, many challenges need to be solved. This issue includes three articles that have been reviewed and approved for publication by experts in the respective fields.