Rewarding online users as a function of network topology

A method for rewarding online users as a function of network topology, the method comprising:

• a processor of a computer system receiving a representation of a topology of the network and a set of base reward values, where each value of the set of base reward values identifies a value of a reward to be awarded to a user who, at a particular node of the network, either performs a solicited action or forwards to another node of the network a previously received solicitation to perform the solicited action;
• the processor identifying a set of seed nodes of the network that are each capable of soliciting the solicited action;
• the processor computing a position value for each non-seed node of the network as a function of the position of the each non-seed node in the topology, where the computing a position value for a non-seed node S of the network comprises:
• the processor deriving, for a first node T of the network, a set of shortest paths from any seed node of the network to T, where T is not a seed node and is distinct from node S;
• the processor determining a per cent % (T) of the set of shortest paths that comprises node S;
• the processor repeating the deriving and the determining for every remaining node of the network that is not a seed node and is distinct from nodes S and T;
• and
• the processor calculating a position value PV(S) of node S as a sum of the determined per cent % (i) values of all nodes i of the network that are not seed nodes and are distinct from node S;
• the processor adjusting the set of base reward values as a function of the computed position values;
• the processor detecting that a user at a performing node of the network has performed an activity solicited by a soliciting node of the set of seed nodes;
• the processor associating with an eligible node a value of a final reward, as a function of an adjusted value of the adjusted set of base reward values that is associated with the eligible node, where the eligible node lies on a network path connecting the soliciting node to the performing node;
• and
• the processor delivering the final reward to an account associated with a user of the eligible node.

A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable hardware storage device having a computer-readable program code stored therein, the program code configured to be executed by an online reward system comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a network interface capable of allowing the processor to transfer an online reward to an account of a user of a network, and a computer-readable hardware storage device coupled to the processor, the hardware storage device containing program code configured to be run by the processor via the memory to implement a method for rewarding online users as a function of network topology, the method comprising:

• the processor receiving a representation of a topology of the network and a set of base reward values, where each value of the set of base reward values identifies a value of a reward to be awarded to a user who, at a particular node of the network, either performs a solicited action or forwards to another node of the network a previously received solicitation to perform the solicited action;
• the processor identifying a set of seed nodes of the network that are each capable of soliciting the solicited action;
• the processor computing a position value for each non-seed node of the network as a function of the position of the each non-seed node in the topology, where the computing a position value for a non-seed node S of the network comprises:
• the processor deriving, for a first node T of the network, a set of shortest paths from any seed node of the network to T, where T is not a seed node and is distinct from node S;
• the processor determining a per cent % (T) of the set of shortest paths that comprises node S;
• the processor repeating the deriving and the determining for every remaining node of the network that is not a seed node and is distinct from nodes S and T;
• and
• the processor calculating a position value PV(S) of node S as a sum of the determined per cent % (i) values of all nodes i of the network that are not seed nodes and are distinct from node S;
• the processor adjusting the set of base reward values as a function of the computed position values;
• the processor detecting that a user at a performing node of the network has performed an activity solicited by a soliciting node of the set of seed nodes;
• the processor associating with an eligible node a value of a final reward, as a function of an adjusted value of the adjusted set of base reward values that is associated with the eligible node, where the eligible node lies on a network path connecting the soliciting node to the performing node;
• and
• the processor delivering the final reward to an account associated with a user of the eligible node.