On characteristics dependent linear coding capacity of sum‐networks. Issue 5 (1st September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rai, Brijesh Kumar; Das, Niladri
• Is Part Of: IET networks. Volume 6:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 133
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2017-09-01
• Subjects: linear codes; linear coding capacity -- nonmulticast networks -- finite field -- Fano network -- sum networks; Computer network architectures -- Periodicals; Computer network protocols -- Periodicals; Information networks -- Periodicals; Telecommunication systems -- Periodicals; 004.605
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-net.2016.0099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-4954

Abstract

Abstract : It is known that the linear coding capacity of non‐multicast networks may depend on the characteristic of the finite field. Such a dependence has been demonstrated in several examples presented in the literature. However, in all such examples, the number of distinct values that the linear coding capacity can take over different characteristics of the finite field is two. For example, the Fano network has linear coding capacity equal to one over even characteristic, and has linear coding capacity equal to 4/5 over odd characteristics. It is a natural question that whether a network can have arbitrarily many different characteristics dependent linear coding capacities. In this study, the authors answer the question for sum‐networks, which are networks where the terminals demand the sum of the messages generated by the sources. Specifically, they show that given a set of characteristics (prime numbers) { p 1, p 2, …, p n }, indeed there exists a sum‐network such that for each different value of the characteristic of the finite field, the linear coding capacity of the sum‐network is different.