New family of single-error correcting codes

A construction is given that combines an(n, M_1, d_1)code with an(n, M_2, d_2 = [frac{1}{2}(d_1 + 1)])code to form a(2n, M_1 M_2, d_1)code. This is used to construct a new family of nongroup single-error correcting codes of all lengthsnfrom2^mto 3 ·2^{m-1} - 1, for everym geq 3. These codes have more codewords than any group code of the same length and minimum distance. A number of other nongroup codes are also obtained. Examples of the new codes are (16,2560,3) and (16,36,7) codes, both having more codewords than any comparable group code.