A survey on proper codes

The performance of a linear t-error correcting code over a q-ary symmetric memoryless channel with symbol error probability ε is characterized by the probability that a transmission error will remain undetected. This probability is a function of ε involving the code weight distribution and the weight distribution of the cosets of minimum weight at most t. When the undetectable error probability is an increasing function of ε, the code is called t-proper.

The paper presents sufficient conditions for t-properness and a list of codes known to be proper, many of which have been studied by these sufficient conditions. Special attention is paid to error detecting codes of interest in modern communication.