Identities and approximations for the weight distribution of q-ary codes

An explicit formula is derived that enumerates the complete weight distribution of an (n, k, d) linear code using a partially known weight distribution. An approximation formula for the weight distribution of q-ary linear (n, k , d) codes is also derived. It is shown that, for a given q-ary linear (n, k, d) code, the ratio of the number of codewords of weight u to the number of words of weight u approaches the constant Q=q ^-(n-k) as u becomes large. The error term is a decreasing function of the minimum weight of the dual. The results are also valid for nonlinear (n, M, d) codes with the minimum weight of the dual replaced by the dual distance     

Composition of Reed-Solomon codes and geometric designs

It is shown that good linear (n,k,d) codes over a finite field GF(q) can be constructed by concatenating the generator matrices of Reed-Solomon codes. For the case of k=3, it is shown that many of the codes obtained using projective-geometry techniques can readily be obtained by the proposed algebraic approach     

New multilevel codes over GF(q)

Set partitioning is applied to multidimensional signal spaces over GF(q), i.e., GFⁿ¹(q) (n1⩽q ), and it is shown how to construct both multilevel block codes and multilevel trellis codes over GF(q). Multilevel (n, k, d) block codes over GF(q) with block length n, number of information symbols k, and minimum distance d_min⩾d are presented. These codes use Reed-Solomon codes as component codes. Longer multilevel block codes are also constructed using q-ary block codes with block length longer than q+1 as component codes. Some quaternary multilevel block codes are presented with the same length and number of information symbols as, but larger distance than, the best previously known quaternary one-level block codes. It is proved that if all the component block codes are linear. the multilevel block code is also linear. Low-rate q-ary convolutional codes, word-error-correcting convolutional codes, and binary-to-q-ary convolutional codes can also be used to construct multilevel trellis codes over GF(q) or binary-to-q-ary trellis codes     

Pseudocyclic maximum-distance-separable codes

The (n, k) pseudocyclic maximum-distance-separable (MDS) codes modulo (xⁿ- a) over GF(q) are considered. Suppose that n is a divisor of q+1. If n is odd, pseudocyclic MDS codes exist for all k. However, if n is even, nontrivial pseudocyclic MDS codes exist for odd k (but not for even k) if a is a quadratic residue in GF(q), and they exist for even k (but not for odd k) if a is not a quadratic residue in GF(q). Also considered is the case when n is a divisor of q-1, and it is shown that pseudocyclic MDS codes exist if and only if the multiplicative order of a divides (q-1)/n, and that when this condition is satisfied, such codes exist for all k. If the condition is not satisfied, every pseudocyclic code of length n is the result of interleaving a shorter pseudocyclic code     

New minimum distance bounds for certain binary linear codes

Let an [n, k, d]-code denote a binary linear code of length n, dimension k, and minimum distance at least d. Define d(n, k) as the maximum value of d for which there exists a binary linear [n, k, d]-code. T. Verhoeff (1989) has provided an updated table of bounds on d(n, k) for 1⩽k⩽n⩽127. The authors improve on some of the upper bounds given in that table by proving the nonexistence of codes with certain parameters     

On the influence of coding on the mean time to failure fordegrading memories with defects

The application of a combined test-error-correcting procedure is studied to improve the mean time to failure (MTTF) for degrading memory systems with defects. The degradation is characterized by the probability p that within a unit of time a memory cell changes from the operational state to the permanent defect state. Bounds are given on the MTTF and it is shown that, for memories with N words of k information bits, coding gives an improvement in MTTF proportional to (k/n) N(d_min^-2)/(d_min ^-1), where d_min and (k/n) are the minimum distance and the efficiency of the code used, respectively. Thus the time gain for a simple minimum-distance-3 is proportional to N^-1. A memory word test is combined with a simple defect-matching code. This yields reliable operation with one defect in a word of length k+2 at a code efficiency k/(k+2)     

On repeated-root cyclic codes

A parity-check matrix for a q-ary repeated-root cyclic code is derived using the Hasse derivative. Then the minimum distance of a q-ary repeated-root cyclic code is expressed in terms of the minimum distance of a certain simple-root cyclic code. With the help of this result, several binary repeated-root cyclic codes of lengths up to n=62 are shown to contain the largest known number of codewords for their given length and minimum distance. The relative minimum distance d_min/n of q-ary repeated-root cyclic codes of rate r⩾R is proven to tend to zero as the largest multiplicity of a root of the generator g(x) increases to infinity. It is further shown that repeated-root cycle codes cannot be asymptotically better than simple-root cyclic codes     

A (16, 9, 6, 5, 4) error-correcting DC free block code

A (2n, k, l, c, d) DC free binary block code is a code of length 2n, constant weight n, 2^k codewords, maximum runlength of a symbol l , maximum accumulated charge c, and minimum distance d . The purpose of this code is to achieve DC freeness and error correction at the same time. The goal is to keep the rate k/2 n and d large and l and c small. Of course, these are conflicting goals. H.C. Ferreira (IEEE Trans. Magn., vol.MAG-20, no.5, p.881-3, 1984) presented a (16, 8, 8, 5, 4) DC free code. Here, a (16, 9, 6, 5, 4) DC free code is presented. Easy encoding and decoding algorithms are also given     

Lower bounds for q-ary covering codes

The authors prove combinatorial lower bounds for K_q (n,R), the minimal cardinality of any q-ary code of length n and covering radius R. Tables of lower bounds for K_q(n,R) are presented for q=3, 4, 5     

Constructions of error-correcting DC-free block codes

Two DC-free codes are presented with distance 2d, b ⩾1 length 2n+2r(d-1) for d⩽3 and length 2n+2r(d-1)(2d -1) for d>3, where r is the least integer ⩾log₂ (2n+1). For the first code l=4, c=2, and the asymptotic rate of this code is 0.7925. For the second code l=6, c=3, and the asymptotic rate of this code is 0.8858. Asymptotically, these rates achieve the channel capacity. For small values of n these codes do not achieve the best rate. As an example of codes of short length with good rate, the author presents a (30, 10, 6, 4) DC-free block code with 2²¹ codewords. A construction is presented for which from a given code C ₁ of length n, even weight, and distance 4, the author obtains a (4n, l, c, 4) DC-free block code C₂, where l is 4, 5 or 6, and c is not greater than n+1 (but usually significantly smaller). The codes obtained by this method have good rates for small lengths. The encoding and decoding procedures for all the codes are discussed     

A general decoding technique applicable to replicated filedisagreement location and concatenated code decoding

Code symbols are treated as vectors in an r-dimensional vector space F^r over a field F. Given any ( n, k) linear block code over F with minimum distance d, it is possible to derive an (n, k) code with symbols over F^r, also with minimum distance d, which can correct any pattern of d-2 or fewer symbol errors for which the symbol errors as vectors are linearly independent. This is about twice the bound on the number of errors guaranteed to be correctable. Furthermore, if the error vectors are linearly dependent and d-2 or fewer in number, the existence of dependence can always be detected. A decoding techinque is described for which complexity increases no greater than as n ³, for any choice of code. For the two applications considered, situations are described where the probability of the error patterns being linearly dependent decreases exponentially with r     

A strengthening of the Assmus-Mattson theorem

Let w₁=d,w₂,…,w _s be the weights of the nonzero codewords in a binary linear [n,k,d] code C, and let w' ₁, w'₂, …, w'₃, be the nonzero weights in the dual code C1. Let t be an integer in the range 0<t<d such that there are at most d-t weights w'_i with 0<w'_i ⩽n-t E. F. Assmus and H. F. Mattson, Jr. (1969) proved that the words of any weight w_i in C form a t-design. The authors show that if w₂⩾d+4 then either the words of any nonzero weight w_i form a (t+1)-design or else the codewords of minimal weight d form a {1,2,…,t,t+2}-design. If in addition C is self-dual with all weights divisible by 4 then the codewords of any given weight w_i form either a (t +1)-design or a {1,2,…,t,t+2}-design. The proof avoids the use of modular forms     

Some new upper bounds on the covering radius of binary linear codes

A Griesmer-like upper bound on the covering radius, R, is given. To the author's knowledge this is the only upper bound which explicitly depends on all three parameters n, k, and d. An upper bound on R for cyclic codes is then given which depends on the generator polynomial of the cyclic code and which, in many cases, leads to an improvement of the previous bound. An upper bound on the irreducible generator polynomial cyclic codes is also given. New interpretations and applications of the so-called Norse bounds and necessary and sufficient conditions to attain one of these bounds are provided. Generalizations of most of the results for codes over GF(q) are outlined     

Binary [18,11]2 codes do not exist-Nor do [64,53]2 codes

A binary, linear block code C with block length n and dimension n is commonly denoted by [n, k] or, if its minimum distance is d, by [n, k,d]. The code's covering radius r(C) can be defined as the smallest number r such that any binary column vector of length (n-k) can be written as a sum of r or fewer columns of a parity-check matrix of C. An [n,k] code with covering radius r is denoted by [n,k]r. R.A. Brualdi et al., (1989) showed that l(m,r) is defined to be the smallest n such that an [n,n-m]r code exists. l(m,2) is known for m⩽6, while it is shown by Brualdi et al. that 17⩽l(7,2)⩽19. This lower bound is improved by A.R. Calderbank et al. (1988), where it is shown that [17,10]2 codes do not exist. The nonexistence of [18,11]2 codes is proved, so that l(7,2)=19. l[7.2)=19 is established by showing that [18,11]2 codes do not exist. It is also shown that [64,53]2 codes do not exist, implying that l(11,2)⩾65     

Index system and separability of constant weight Gray codes

A number system is developed for the conversion of natural numbers to the codewords of the Gray code G(n,k) of length n and weight k, and vice versa. The focus is on the subcode G(n,k) of G(n) consisting of those words of G(n) with precisely k 1-bits, 0<k<n. This code is called the constant weight Gray code of length n and weight k. As an application sharp lower and upper bounds are derived for the value of |i-j|, where i and j are indices of codewords g_i and g_j of G(n,k) such that they differ in precisely 2 m bits     

Binary linear quasi-perfect codes are normal

Whether quasi-perfect codes are normal is addressed. Let C be a code of length n, dimension k, covering radius R, and minimal distance d. It is proved that C is normal if d⩾2R-1. Hence all quasi-perfect codes are normal. Consequently, any [n,k ]R binary linear code with minimal distance d⩾2R-1 is normal     

Bounds on the undetected error probabilities of linear codes forboth error correction and detection

The author investigates the (n, k, d⩾2t+1) binary linear codes, which are used for correcting error patterns of weight at most t and detecting other error patterns over a binary symmetric channel. In particular, for t=1, it is shown that there exists one code whose probability of undetected errors is upper-bounded by (n+1) [2^n-k-n]^-1 when used on a binary symmetric channel with transition probability less than 2/n     

On (k, t)-subnormal covering codes

The concept of a (k, t)-subnormal covering code is defined. It is discussed how an amalgamated-direct-sumlike construction can be used to combine such codes. The existence of optimal (q, n, M) 1 codes C is discussed such that by puncturing the first coordinate of C one obtains a code with (q, 1)-subnorm 2     

On the decoding of algebraic-geometric codes over Fq forq⩾16

It is proved that for algebraic-geometric codes on a curve over F _q for q⩾37 or on a curve of sufficiently large genus over F_q for q⩾16 there exists a polynomial decoding algorithm up to (d*-1)/2 errors, d* being the designed minimum distance     

Reliability of a consecutivek-out-of-r-from-n:F system

The reliability of the consecutive k-out-of-r-from-n:F system is studied. For k=2 an explicit solution is given for n components in line or in cycle in the i.i.d. case. For k⩾3 sharp lower and upper bounds are given for the reliability of the system and demonstrated for different values of n, k, r, p. These bounds are exact for r=n, n-1, n-2, n-3, and for these values the exact analytic solution is also given