A1.10

Coding and Cryptography
Part II, 2003

(i) We work over the field of two elements. Define what is meant by a linear code of length nn. What is meant by a generator matrix for a linear code?

Define what is meant by a parity check code of length nn. Show that a code is linear if and only if it is a parity check code.

Give the original Hamming code in terms of parity checks and then find a generator matrix for it.

[You may use results from the theory of vector spaces provided that you quote them correctly.]

(ii) Suppose that 1/4>δ>01 / 4>\delta>0 and let α(n,nδ)\alpha(n, n \delta) be the largest information rate of any binary error correcting code of length nn which can correct [nδ][n \delta] errors.

Show that

1H(2δ)lim infnα(n,nδ)1H(δ)1-H(2 \delta) \leqslant \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty} \alpha(n, n \delta) \leqslant 1-H(\delta)

where

H(η)=ηlog2η(1η)log2(1η)H(\eta)=-\eta \log _{2} \eta-(1-\eta) \log _{2}(1-\eta)

[You may assume any form of Stirling's theorem provided that you quote it correctly.]