  Dynamic networks have intrinsic structural, computational, and
multidisciplinary advantages. Link prediction estimates the next relationship
in dynamic networks. However, in the current link prediction approaches, only
bipartite or non-bipartite but homogeneous networks are considered. The use of
adjacency matrix to represent dynamically evolving networks limits the ability
to analytically learn from heterogeneous, sparse, or forming networks. In the
case of a heterogeneous network, modeling all network states using a
binary-valued matrix can be difficult. On the other hand, sparse or currently
forming networks have many missing edges, which are represented as zeros, thus
introducing class imbalance or noise. We propose a time-parameterized matrix
(TP-matrix) and empirically demonstrate its effectiveness in non-bipartite,
heterogeneous networks. In addition, we propose a predictive influence index as
a measure of a node's boosting or diminishing predictive influence using
backward and forward-looking maximization over the temporal space of the
n-degree neighborhood. We further propose a new method of canonically
representing heterogeneous time-evolving activities as a temporally
parameterized network model (TPNM). The new method robustly enables activities
to be represented as a form of a network, thus potentially inspiring new link
prediction applications, including intelligent business process management
systems and context-aware workflow engines. We evaluated our model on four
datasets of different network systems. We present results that show the
proposed model is more effective in capturing and retaining temporal
relationships in dynamically evolving networks. We also show that our model
performed better than state-of-the-art link prediction benchmark results for
networks that are sensitive to temporal evolution.
