Linear-algebraic list decoding of folded Reed-Solomon codes

Folded Reed-Solomon codes are an explicit family of codes that achieve the optimal trade-off between rate and error-correction capability: specifically, for any \eps > 0, the author and Rudra (2006,08) presented an n^{O(1/\eps)} time algorithm to list decode appropriate folded RS codes of rate $R$ from a fraction 1-R-\eps of errors. The algorithm is based on multivariate polynomial interpolation and root-finding over extension fields. It was noted by Vadhan that interpolating a linear polynomial suffices if one settles for a smaller decoding radius (but still enough for a statement of the above form). Here we give a simple linear-algebra based analysis of this variant that eliminates the need for the computationally expensive root-finding step over extension fields (and indeed any mention of extension fields). The entire list decoding algorithm is linear-algebraic, solving one linear system for the interpolation step, and another linear system to find a small subspace of candidate solutions. Except for the step of pruning this subspace, the algorithm can be implemented to run in {\em quadratic} time. The theoretical drawback of folded RS codes are that both the decoding complexity and proven worst-case list-size bound are n^{\Omega(1/\eps)}. By combining the above idea with a pseudorandom subset of all polynomials as messages, we get a Monte Carlo construction achieving a list size bound of O(1/\eps^2) which is quite close to the existential O(1/\eps) bound (however, the decoding complexity remains n^{\Omega(1/\eps)}). Our work highlights that constructing an explicit {\em subspace-evasive} subset that has small intersection with low-dimensional subspaces could lead to explicit codes with better list-decoding guarantees.Comment: 16 pages. Extended abstract in Proc. of IEEE Conference on Computational Complexity (CCC), 201

Sub-quadratic Decoding of One-point Hermitian Codes

We present the first two sub-quadratic complexity decoding algorithms for one-point Hermitian codes. The first is based on a fast realisation of the Guruswami-Sudan algorithm by using state-of-the-art algorithms from computer algebra for polynomial-ring matrix minimisation. The second is a Power decoding algorithm: an extension of classical key equation decoding which gives a probabilistic decoding algorithm up to the Sudan radius. We show how the resulting key equations can be solved by the same methods from computer algebra, yielding similar asymptotic complexities.Comment: New version includes simulation results, improves some complexity results, as well as a number of reviewer corrections. 20 page

List and Probabilistic Unique Decoding of Folded Subspace Codes

A new class of folded subspace codes for noncoherent network coding is presented. The codes can correct insertions and deletions beyond the unique decoding radius for any code rate $R\in[0,1]$. An efficient interpolation-based decoding algorithm for this code construction is given which allows to correct insertions and deletions up to the normalized radius $s(1-((1/h+h)/(h-s+1))R)$, where $h$ is the folding parameter and $s\leq h$ is a decoding parameter. The algorithm serves as a list decoder or as a probabilistic unique decoder that outputs a unique solution with high probability. An upper bound on the average list size of (folded) subspace codes and on the decoding failure probability is derived. A major benefit of the decoding scheme is that it enables probabilistic unique decoding up to the list decoding radius.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, accepted for ISIT 201

Re-encoding reformulation and application to Welch-Berlekamp algorithm

The main decoding algorithms for Reed-Solomon codes are based on a bivariate interpolation step, which is expensive in time complexity. Lot of interpolation methods were proposed in order to decrease the complexity of this procedure, but they stay still expensive. Then Koetter, Ma and Vardy proposed in 2010 a technique, called re-encoding, which allows to reduce the practical running time. However, this trick is only devoted for the Koetter interpolation algorithm. We propose a reformulation of the re-encoding for any interpolation methods. The assumption for this reformulation permits only to apply it to the Welch-Berlekamp algorithm

List-Decoding of Binary Goppa Codes up to the Binary Johnson Bound

International audienceWe study the list-decoding problem of alternant codes (which includes obviously that of classical Goppa codes). The major consideration here is to take into account the (small) size of the alphabet. This amounts to comparing the generic Johnson bound to the q-ary Johnson bound. The most favourable case is q = 2, for which the decoding radius is greatly improved. Even though the announced result, which is the list-decoding radius of binary Goppa codes, is new, we acknowledge that it can be made up from separate previous sources, which may be a little bit unknown, and where the binary Goppa codes has apparently not been thought at. Only D. J. Bernstein has treated the case of binary Goppa codes in a preprint. References are given in the introduction. We propose an autonomous and simplified treatment and also a complexity analysis of the studied algorithm, which is quadratic in the blocklength n, when decoding away of the relative maximum decoding radius

Algebraic number theory and code design for Rayleigh fading channels

Algebraic number theory is having an increasing impact in code design for many different coding applications, such as single antenna fading channels and more recently, MIMO systems. Extended work has been done on single antenna fading channels, and algebraic lattice codes have been proven to be an effective tool. The general framework has been settled in the last ten years and many explicit code constructions based on algebraic number theory are now available. The aim of this work is to provide both an overview on algebraic lattice code designs for Rayleigh fading channels, as well as a tutorial introduction to algebraic number theory. The basic facts of this mathematical field will be illustrated by many examples and by the use of a computer algebra freeware in order to make it more accessible to a large audience