Speeding up the MATLAB complex networks package using graphic processors

The availability of computers and communication networks allows us to gather and analyse data on a far larger scale than previously. At present, it is believed that statistics is a suitable method to analyse networks with millions, or more, of vertices. The MATLAB language, with its mass of statistical functions, is a good choice to rapidly realize an algorithm prototype of complex networks. The performance of the MATLAB codes can be further improved by using graphic processor units (GPU). This paper presents the strategies and performance of the GPU implementation of a complex networks package, and the Jacket toolbox of MATLAB is used. Compared with some commercially available CPU implementations, GPU can achieve a speedup of, on average, 11.3×. The experimental result proves that the GPU platform combined with the MATLAB language is a good combination for complex network research.