DualNetView: Dual Views for Visualizing the Dynamics of Networks

Abstract

The force-directed layout is a popular visual method for revealing network structures, such as clusters and important vertices. However, it is not capable of representing temporal patterns, such as how clusters/communities evolve. Dynamic network visualizations trade the overall structures for temporal relationships. In this paper, we present a dual view framework for capturing both overall structures and temporal patterns within networks. The linked supplemental views utilize the strengths of both visualization techniques to provide useful insights into the given networks. To demonstrate the usefulness of our proposed dual views, we provide three use cases of dynamic networks: computer networks communications, activities of suspicious processes in computer systems, and social networks.