Odd and even hamming spheres also have minimum boundary

Combinatorial problems with a geometric flavor arise if the set of all binary sequences of a fixed length n, is provided with the Hamming distance. The Hamming distance of any two binary sequences is the number of positions in which they differ. The (outer) boundary of a set A of binary sequences is the set of all sequences outside A that are at distance 1 from some sequence in A. Harper [6] proved that among all the sets of a prescribed volume, the ‘sphere’ has minimum boundary.We show that among all the sets in which no pair of sequences have distance 1, the set of all the sequences with an even (odd) number of 1's in a Hamming ‘sphere’ has the same minimizing property. Some related results are obtained. Sets with more general extremal properties of this kind yield good error-correcting codes for multi-terminal channels.     

Bi-Lipschitz bijection between the Boolean cube and the Hamming ball

We construct a bi-Lipschitz bijection from the Boolean cube to the Hamming ball of equal volume. More precisely, we show that for all even n ∈ N there exists an explicit bijection ψ: {0, 1}ⁿ → {x ∈ {0, 1}ⁿ⁺¹ : |x| > n/2} such that for every x ≠ y ∈ {0, 1}ⁿ, \(\frac{1}{5} \leqslant \frac{{dis\tan ce\left( {\psi \left( x \right),\psi \left( y \right)} \right)}}{{dis\tan ce\left( {x,y} \right)}} \leqslant 4,\) where distance(·, ·) denotes the Hamming distance. In particular, this implies that the Hamming ball is bi-Lipschitz transitive.     

Quasi-median hulls in Hamming space are Steiner hulls

A Hamming space Λⁿ consists of all sequences of length n over an alphabet Λ and is endowed with the Hamming distance. In particular, any set of aligned DNA sequences of fixed length constitutes a subspace of a Hamming space with respect to mismatch distance. The quasi-median operation returns for any three sequences u,v,w the sequence which in each coordinate attains either the majority coordinate from u,v,w or else (in the case of a tie) the coordinate of the first entry, u; for a subset of Λⁿ the iterative application of this operation stabilizes in its quasi-median hull. We show that for every finite tree interconnecting a given subset X of Λⁿ there exists a shortest realization within Λⁿ for which all interior nodes belong to the quasi-median hull of X. Hence the quasi-median hull serves as a Steiner hull for the Steiner problem in Hamming space.     

Coding with injections

A permutation code of length n and minimum distance d is a set Γ of permutations from some fixed set of n symbols such that the Hamming distance between any distinct ${u,v \in \Gamma}$ is at least d. As a generalization, we introduce the problem of packing injections from an m-set, m ≤?n, sometimes called m-arrangements, relative to Hamming distance. We offer some preliminary coding-theoretic bounds, a few design-theoretic connections, and a short discussion on possible applications.     

On the binary codes with parameters of triply-shortened 1-perfect codes

We study properties of binary codes with parameters close to the parameters of 1-perfect codes. An arbitrary binary (n?=?2 ^m ? 3, 2 ^n-m-1, 4) code C, i.e., a code with parameters of a triply-shortened extended Hamming code, is a cell of an equitable partition of the n-cube into six cells. An arbitrary binary (n?=?2 ^m ? 4, 2 ^n-m , 3) code D, i.e., a code with parameters of a triply-shortened Hamming code, is a cell of an equitable family (but not a partition) with six cells. As a corollary, the codes C and D are completely semiregular; i.e., the weight distribution of such codes depends only on the minimal and maximal codeword weights and the code parameters. Moreover, if D is self-complementary, then it is completely regular. As an intermediate result, we prove, in terms of distance distributions, a general criterion for a partition of the vertices of a graph (from rather general class of graphs, including the distance-regular graphs) to be equitable.     

On the admissible families of components of hamming codes

In this paper, the properties of the i-components of Hamming codes are described. We suggest constructions of the admissible families of components of Hamming codes. Each q-ary code of length m and minimum distance 5 (for q = 3, the minimum distance is 3) is shown to embed in a q-ary 1-perfect code of length n = (q ^m − 1)/(q − 1). Moreover, each binary code of length m+k and minimum distance 3k + 3 embeds in a binary 1-perfect code of length n = 2 ^m − 1.     

On distance Gray codes

A Gray code of size n is a cyclic sequence of all binary words of length n such that two consecutive words differ exactly in one position. We say that the Gray code is a distance code if the Hamming distance between words located at distance k from each other is equal to d. The distance property generalizes the familiar concepts of a locally balanced Gray code. We prove that there are no distance Gray codes with d = 1 for k > 1. Some examples of constructing distance Gray codes are given. For one infinite series of parameters, it is proved that there are no distance Gray codes.     

Broadcasting secure messages via optimal independent spanning trees in folded hypercubes

Fault-tolerant broadcasting and secure message distribution are important issues for network applications. It is a common idea to design multiple spanning trees with a specific property in the underlying graph of a network to serve as a broadcasting scheme or a distribution protocol for receiving high levels of fault-tolerance and security. An n-dimensional folded hypercube, denoted by FQ_n, is a strengthening variation of hypercube by adding additional links between nodes that have the furthest Hamming distance. In, [12], Ho(1990) proposed an algorithm for constructing n+1 edge-disjoint spanning trees each with a height twice the diameter of FQ_n. Yang et al. (2009), [29] recently proved that Ho’s spanning trees are indeed independent, i.e., any two spanning trees have the same root, say r, and for any other node v≠r, the two different paths from v to r, one path in each tree, are internally node-disjoint. In this paper, we provide another construction scheme to produce n+1 independent spanning trees of FQ_n, where the height of each tree is equal to the diameter of FQ_n plus one. As a result, the heights of independent spanning trees constructed in this paper are shown to be optimal.     

Sets of permutations that generate the symmetric group pairwise

The paper contains proofs of the following results. For all sufficiently large odd integers n, there exists a set of ²n−1 permutations that pairwise generate the symmetric group Sn. There is no set of ²n−1+1 permutations having this property. For all sufficiently large integers n with n≡2mod4, there exists a set of ²n−2 even permutations that pairwise generate the alternating group An. There is no set of ²n−2+1 permutations having this property.     

Permutation codes with specified packing radius

Most papers on permutation codes have concentrated on the minimum Hamming distance of the code. An (n, d) permutation code (or permutation array) is simply a set of permutations on n elements in which the Hamming distance between any pair of distinct permutations (or codewords) is at least d. An (n, 2e + 1) or (n, 2e + 2) permutation code is able to correct up to e errors. These codes have a potential application to powerline communications. It is known that in an (n, 2e) permutation code the balls of radius e surrounding the codewords may all be pairwise disjoint, but usually some overlap. Thus an (n, 2e) permutation code is generally unable to correct e errors using nearest neighbour decoding. On the other hand, if the packing radius of the code is defined as the largest value of e for which the balls of radius e are all pairwise disjoint, a permutation code with packing radius e can be denoted by [n, e]. Such a permutation code can always correct e errors. In this paper it is shown that, in almost all cases considered, the number of codewords in the best [n, e] code found is substantially greater than the largest number of codewords in the best known (n, 2e + 1) code. Thus the packing radius more accurately specifies the requirement for an e-error-correcting permutation code than does the minimum Hamming distance. The techniques used include construction by automorphism group and several variations of clique search They are enhanced by two theoretical results which make the computations feasible.     

The Subelliptic Heat Kernel on the Anti-de Sitter Space

We study the subelliptic heat kernel of the sub-Laplacian on a 2n+1-dimensional anti-de Sitter space ?²ⁿ⁺¹ which also appears as a model space of a CR Sasakian manifold with constant negative sectional curvature. In particular we obtain an explicit and geometrically meaningful formula for the subelliptic heat kernel. The key idea is to work in a set of coordinates that reflects the symmetry coming from the Hopf fibration \(\mathbb{S}^{1}\to \mathbb{H}^{2n+1}\). A direct application is obtaining small time asymptotics of the subelliptic heat kernel. Also we derive an explicit formula for the sub-Riemannian distance on ?²ⁿ⁺¹.     

New linear codes over GF(8)

Let [n, k, d; q]-codes be linear codes of length n, dimension k and minimum Hamming distance d over GF(q). Let d₈(n, k) be the maximum possible minimum Hamming distance of a linear [n, k, d; 8]-code for given values of n and k. In this paper, eighteen new linear codes over GF(8) are constructed which improve the table of d₈(n, k) by Brouwer.     

The maximum number of disjoint pairs in a family of subsets

Let ? be a family of 2 ⁿ⁺¹ subsets of a 2n-element set. Then the number of disjoint pairs in ? is bounded by (1+o(1))2²ⁿ . This proves an old conjecture of Erdös. Let ? be a family of 2^1/(k+1)+δ)n subsets of ann-element set. Then the number of containments in ? is bounded by (1-1/k+o(1))( ₂ ^|?| ). This verifies a conjecture of Daykin and Erdös. A similar Erdös-Stone type result is proved for the maximum number of disjoint pairs in a family of subsets.     

Using a similarity measure for credible classification

This paper concerns classification by Boolean functions. We investigate the classification accuracy obtained by standard classification techniques on unseen points (elements of the domain, {0,1}ⁿ, for some n) that are similar, in particular senses, to the points that have been observed as training observations. Explicitly, we use a new measure of how similar a point x∈{0,1}ⁿ is to a set of such points to restrict the domain of points on which we offer a classification. For points sufficiently dissimilar, no classification is given. We report on experimental results which indicate that the classification accuracies obtained on the resulting restricted domains are better than those obtained without restriction. These experiments involve a number of standard data-sets and classification techniques. We also compare the classification accuracies with those obtained by restricting the domain on which classification is given by using the Hamming distance.     

Constructions for Permutation Codes in Powerline Communications

A permutation array (or code) of length n and distance d is a set Γ of permutations from some fixed set of n symbols such that the Hamming distance between each distinct x, y ∈ Γ is at least d. One motivation for coding with permutations is powerline communication. After summarizing known results, it is shown here that certain families of polynomials over finite fields give rise to permutation arrays. Additionally, several new computational constructions are given, often making use of automorphism groups. Finally, a recursive construction for permutation arrays is presented, using and motivating the more general notion of codes with constant weight composition.     

An asymptotic equivalent for the number of total preorders on a finite set

In this note, it is shown that, the number of total preorders on a finite set with n elements is equivalent, for n infinite, to n!/2(Log 2)ⁿ⁺¹.     

Fuzzy codes and distance properties

A fuzzy code is defined as a fuzzy subset of n-tuples over a set F. An analysis of the Hamming distance between two fuzzy codewords and the error-correcting capability of a regular code in terms of its corresponding fuzzy code is presented.     

Lower bounds on the minimum average distance of binary codes

Let β(n,M) denote the minimum average Hamming distance of a binary code of length n and cardinality M. In this paper we consider lower bounds on β(n,M). All the known lower bounds on β(n,M) are useful when M is at least of size about 2ⁿ⁻¹/n. We derive new lower bounds which give good estimations when size of M is about n. These bounds are obtained using a linear programming approach. In particular, it is proved that lim_n→∞β(n,2n)=5/2. We also give a new recursive inequality for β(n,M).     

A note on equal unions in families of sets

A family of sets has the equal union property if and only if there exist two nonempty disjoint subfamilies having the same union. We prove that any n nonempty subsets of an n-element set have the equal union property if the sum of their cardinalities exceeds n(n+1)/2. This bound is tight. Among families in which the sum of the cardinalities equals n(n+1)/2, we characterize those having the equal union property.