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Moshe Schwartz

Publications and source records attributed to Moshe Schwartz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

On Nearly-Perfect Covering Codes Beyond Radius One

We study (binary) nearly-perfect covering codes, which are codes that attain the Van Wee bound with equality. They act as the covering counterparts to nearly-perfect error-correcting codes, which attain the Johnson bound with equality. These codes have been completely classified for covering radius $R=1$. We prove that no code with $R\geq 2$ can attain the original Van Wee bound with equality, since it omits the dependence on the minimum distance of the code. We refine the bound to account for the minimum distance and show some nearly-perfect covering codes. By proving some structural properties of such codes, we prove all nearly-perfect covering codes with $R=2,3$ must be equivalent to the codes we showed. We also prove that for any $R\geq 3$, there are at most a finite number of nearly-perfect covering codes.

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arXiv2026

On the Capacity of Sequences of Coloring Channels

A single coloring channel is defined by a subset of letters it allows to pass through, while deleting all others. A sequence of coloring channels provides multiple views of the same transmitted letter sequence, forming a type of sequence-reconstruction problem useful for protein identification and information storage at the molecular level. We provide exact capacities of several sequences of coloring channels: uniform sunflowers, two arbitrary intersecting sets, and paths. We also show how this capacity depends solely on a related graph we define, called the pairs graph. Using this equivalence, we prove lower and upper bounds on the capacity, and a tailored bound for a coloring-channel sequence forming a cycle. In particular, for an alphabet of size $4$, these results give the exact capacity of all coloring-channel sequences except for a cycle of length $4$, for which we only provide bounds.

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arXiv2026

On the burst-covering radius of binary cyclic codes

We define and study burst-covering codes. We provide some general bounds connecting the parameters of a code with its burst-covering radius. We then provide stronger bounds on the burst-covering radius of cyclic codes, by employing linear-feedback shift-register (LFSR) sequences. For the case of BCH codes we prove a new bound on pattern frequencies in LFSR sequences, which is of independent interest. Using this tool, we can bound the burst-covering radius of binary primitive BCH codes and Melas codes. We then present an efficient burst-covering algorithm for cyclic codes. Finally, we present a bound on the critical exponent of cyclic codes based on the burst-covering radius.

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arXiv2025

On Multidimensional 2-Weight-Limited Burst-Correcting Codes

We consider multidimensional codes capable of correcting a burst error of weight at most $2$. When two positions are in error, the burst limits their relative position. We study three such limitations: the $L_\infty$ distance between the positions is bounded, the $L_1$ distance between the positions is bounded, or the two positions are on an axis-parallel line with bounded distance between them. In all cases we provide explicit code constructions, and compare their excess redundancy to a lower bound we prove.

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arXiv2025

Optimal Reconstruction Codes with Given Reads in Multiple Burst-Substitutions Channels

We study optimal reconstruction codes over the multiple-burst substitution channel. Our main contribution is establishing a trade-off between the error-correction capability of the code, the number of reads used in the reconstruction process, and the decoding list size. We show that over a channel that introduces at most $t$ bursts, we can use a length-$n$ code capable of correcting $\epsilon$ errors, with $\Theta(n^\rho)$ reads, and decoding with a list of size $O(n^\lambda)$, where $t-1=\epsilon+\rho+\lambda$. In the process of proving this, we establish sharp asymptotic bounds on the size of error balls in the burst metric. More precisely, we prove a Johnson-type lower bound via Kahn's Theorem on large matchings in hypergraphs, and an upper bound via a novel variant of Kleitman's Theorem under the burst metric, which might be of independent interest. Beyond this main trade-off, we derive several related results using a variety of combinatorial techniques. In particular, along with tools from recent advances in discrete geometry, we improve the classical Gilbert-Varshamov bound in the asymptotic regime for multiple bursts, and determine the minimum redundancy required for reconstruction codes with polynomially many reads. We also propose an efficient list-reconstruction algorithm that achieves the above guarantees, based on a majority-with-threshold decoding scheme.

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arXiv2025

On Zero Skip-Cost Generalized Fractional-Repetition Codes from Covering Designs

We study generalized fractional repetition codes that have zero skip cost, and which are based on covering designs. We show that a zero skip cost is always attainable, perhaps at a price of an expansion factor compared with the optimal size of fractional repetition codes based on Steiner systems. We provide three constructions, as well as show non-constructively, that no expansion is needed for all codes based on sufficiently large covering systems.

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arXiv2025

Bounds on Box Codes

Let $n_q(M,d)$ be the minimum length of a $q$-ary code of size $M$ and minimum distance $d$. Bounding $n_q(M,d)$ is a fundamental problem that lies at the heart of coding theory. This work considers a generalization $n^\bx_q(M,d)$ of $n_q(M,d)$ corresponding to codes in which codewords have \emph{protected} and \emph{unprotected} entries; where (analogs of) distance and of length are measured with respect to protected entries only. Such codes, here referred to as \emph{box codes}, have seen prior studies in the context of bipartite graph covering. Upper and lower bounds on $n^\bx_q(M,d)$ are presented.

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arXiv2024

Improved Constructions of Skew-Tolerant Gray Codes

We study skew-tolerant Gray codes, which are Gray codes in which changes in consecutive codewords occur in adjacent positions. We present the first construction of asymptotically non-vanishing skew-tolerant Gray codes, offering an exponential improvement over the known construction. We also provide linear-time encoding and decoding algorithms for our codes. Finally, we extend the definition to non-binary alphabets, and provide constructions of complete $m$-ary skew-tolerant Gray codes for every base $m\geq 3$.

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arXiv2024

On the Asymptotic Rate of Optimal Codes that Correct Tandem Duplications for Nanopore Sequencing

We study codes that can correct backtracking errors during nanopore sequencing. In this channel, a sequence of length $n$ over an alphabet of size $q$ is being read by a sliding window of length $\ell$, where from each window we obtain only its composition. Backtracking errors cause some windows to repeat, hence manifesting as tandem-duplication errors of length $k$ in the $\ell$-read vector of window compositions. While existing constructions for duplication-correcting codes can be straightforwardly adapted to this model, even resulting in optimal codes, their asymptotic rate is hard to find. In the regime of unbounded number of duplication errors, we either give the exact asymptotic rate of optimal codes, or bounds on it, depending on the values of $k$, $\ell$ and $q$. In the regime of a constant number of duplication errors, $t$, we find the redundancy of optimal codes to be $t\log_q n+O(1)$ when $\ell|k$, and only upper bounded by this quantity otherwise.

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arXiv2024

Storage codes on coset graphs with asymptotically unit rate

A storage code on a graph $G$ is a set of assignments of symbols to the vertices such that every vertex can recover its value by looking at its neighbors. We consider the question of constructing large-size storage codes on triangle-free graphs constructed as coset graphs of binary linear codes. Previously it was shown that there are infinite families of binary storage codes on coset graphs with rate converging to 3/4. Here we show that codes on such graphs can attain rate asymptotically approaching 1. Equivalently, this question can be phrased as a version of hat-guessing games on graphs (e.g., P.J. Cameron e.a., \emph{Electronic J. Comb.} 2016). In this language, we construct triangle-free graphs with success probability of the players approaching one as the number of vertices tends to infinity. Furthermore, finding linear index codes of rate approaching zero is also an equivalent problem. Another family of storage codes on triangle-free graphs of rate approaching 1 was constructed earlier by A. Golovnev and I. Haviv (36th Computational Complexity Conf., 2021) relying on a different family of graphs.

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arXiv2024

On the Coding Capacity of Reverse-Complement and Palindromic Duplication-Correcting Codes

We derive the coding capacity for duplication-correcting codes capable of correcting any number of duplications. We do so both for reverse-complement duplications, as well as palindromic (reverse) duplications. We show that except for duplication-length $1$, the coding capacity is $0$. When the duplication length is $1$, the coding capacity depends on the alphabet size, and we construct optimal codes.

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arXiv2024

On Duplication-Free Codes for Disjoint or Equal-Length Errors

Motivated by applications in DNA storage, we study a setting in which strings are affected by tandem-duplication errors. In particular, we look at two settings: disjoint tandem-duplication errors, and equal-length tandem-duplication errors. We construct codes, with positive asymptotic rate, for the two settings, as well as for their combination. Our constructions are duplication-free codes, comprising codewords that do not contain tandem duplications of specific lengths. Additionally, our codes generalize previous constructions, containing them as special cases.

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arXiv2023

Repairing Schemes for Tamo-Barg Codes

In this paper, the repair problem for erasures beyond locality in locally repairable codes is explored under a practical system setting, where a rack-aware storage system consists of racks, each containing a few parity checks. This is referred to as a rack-aware system with locality. Two repair schemes are devised to reduce the repair bandwidth for Tamo-Barg codes under the rack-aware model by setting each repair set as a rack. Additionally, a cut-set bound for locally repairable codes under the rack-aware model with locality is introduced. Using this bound, the second repair scheme is proven to be optimal. Furthermore, the partial-repair problem is considered for locally repairable codes under the rack-aware model with locality, and both repair schemes and bounds are introduced for this scenario.

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arXiv2023

Reconstruction from Noisy Substrings

This paper studies the problem of encoding messages into sequences which can be uniquely recovered from some noisy observations about their substrings. The observed reads comprise consecutive substrings with some given minimum overlap. This coded reconstruction problem has applications to DNA storage. We consider both single-strand reconstruction codes and multi-strand reconstruction codes, where the message is encoded into a single strand or a set of multiple strands, respectively. Various parameter regimes are studied. New codes are constructed, some of whose rates asymptotically attain the upper bounds.

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arXiv2023

Error Correction for DNA Storage

DNA-based storage is an emerging storage technology that provides high information density and long duration. Due to the physical constraints in the reading and writing processes, error correction in DNA storage poses several interesting coding theoretic challenges, some of which are new. In this paper, we give a brief introduction to some of the coding challenges for DNA-based storage, including deletion/insertion correcting codes, codes over sliced channels, and duplication correcting codes.

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arXiv2023

Quantized-Constraint Concatenation and the Covering Radius of Constrained Systems

We introduce a novel framework for implementing error-correction in constrained systems. The main idea of our scheme, called Quantized-Constraint Concatenation (QCC), is to employ a process of embedding the codewords of an error-correcting code in a constrained system as a (noisy, irreversible) quantization process. This is in contrast to traditional methods, such as concatenation and reverse concatenation, where the encoding into the constrained system is reversible. The possible number of channel errors QCC is capable of correcting is linear in the block length $n$, improving upon the $O(\sqrt{n})$ possible with the state-of-the-art known schemes. For a given constrained system, the performance of QCC depends on a new fundamental parameter of the constrained system - its covering radius. Motivated by QCC, we study the covering radius of constrained systems in both combinatorial and probabilistic settings. We reveal an intriguing characterization of the covering radius of a constrained system using ergodic theory. We use this equivalent characterization in order to establish efficiently computable upper bounds on the covering radius.

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arXiv2022

Linearized Reed-Solomon Codes with Support-Constrained Generator Matrix and Applications in Multi-Source Network Coding

Linearized Reed-Solomon (LRS) codes are evaluation codes based on skew polynomials. They achieve the Singleton bound in the sum-rank metric and therefore are known as maximum sum-rank distance (MSRD) codes. In this work, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of MSRD codes with a support-constrained generator matrix. The conditions on the support constraints are identical to those for MDS codes and MRD codes. The required field size for an $[n,k]_{q^m}$ LRS codes with support-constrained generator matrix is $q\geq \ell+1$ and $m\geq \max_{l\in[\ell]}\{k-1+\log_qk, n_l\}$, where $\ell$ is the number of blocks and $n_l$ is the size of the $l$-th block. The special cases of the result coincide with the known results for Reed-Solomon codes and Gabidulin codes. For the support constraints that do not satisfy the necessary conditions, we derive the maximum sum-rank distance of a code whose generator matrix fulfills the constraints. Such a code can be constructed from a subcode of an LRS code with a sufficiently large field size. Moreover, as an application in network coding, the conditions can be used as constraints in an integer programming problem to design distributed LRS codes for a distributed multi-source network.

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