  Opportunistic mobile social networks (MSNs) are modern paradigms of delay
tolerant networks that consist of mobile users with social characteristics. The
users in MSNs communicate with each other to share data objects. In this
setting, humans are the carriers of mobile devices, hence their social features
such as movement patterns, similarities, and interests can be exploited to
design efficient data forwarding algorithms. In this paper, an overview of
routing and data dissemination issues in the context of opportunistic MSNs is
presented, with focus on (1) MSN characteristics, (2) human mobility models,
(3) dynamic community detection methods, and (4) routing and data dissemination
protocols. Firstly, characteristics of MSNs which lead to the exposure of
patterns of interaction among mobile users are examined. Secondly, properties
of human mobility models are discussed and recently proposed mobility models
are surveyed. Thirdly, community detection and evolution analysis algorithms
are investigated. Then, a comparative review of state-of-the-art routing and
data dissemination algorithms for MSNs is presented, with special attention
paid to critical issues like context-awareness and user selfishness. Based on
the literature review, some important open issues are finally discussed.
