CS 395T/EE 381V: Coding Theory (Spring 2019)

Logistics: Class Hours: TTh 3:30-5:00
Classroom: ECJ 1.312
Unique Numbers: 51225 (CS 395T), 16730 (EE 381V)
Class web page: http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~diz/395T
Professors:
Alex Dimakis
Email: dimakis@austin.utexas.edu
Office: EER 6.816
Phone: 471-3068
Office Hours: W 2:30-4
David Zuckerman
Email: diz@cs.utexas.edu
Office: GDC 4.508
Phone: 471-9729
Office Hours: M 2-3:30
TAs: Erik Lindgren (erikml@utexas.edu)
Fu Li (fuli.theory.research@gmail.com)
Office Hours: F 3-5, GDC basement
Text: V. Guruswami, A. Rudra, and M. Sudan, Essential Coding Theory
Course Overview: Error-correcting codes provide a way to efficiently add redundancy to data, so that the original data can be recovered even in the presence of noise. Such codes are essential in modern communication and storage of data, where high reliability is required. From its engineering roots, coding theory has evolved to use sophisticated mathematical techniques, centering around algebra but also involving probability and combinatorics. Moreover, coding theory has recently found unexpected uses in computer science.

In this interdisciplinary course, we study coding theory from the different perspectives of professors in computer science and electrical engineering. We develop the mathematical tools, construct important codes and associated algorithms, and discuss applications in computer science and communication.

This course should be somewhat similar to the 2014 version of this class.

Prerequisites: Mathematical maturity, plus familiarity with the following topics:
  • Algebra, including vector spaces, eigenvectors/eigenvalues, and finite fields;
  • Discrete Probability, including basic combinatorics, as well as moments and deviation bounds of Markov, Chebyshev, and Chernoff.
Grading: 50%: Homework
50%: Final Exam
Final Exam: The final exam will be on Monday, May 20 from 9am-noon, in ECJ 1.314.
Homework
policy:
Collaboration policy: While you should first think about the problems on your own, you are encouraged to discuss the problems with your classmates. Please limit your collaborations on any particular homework to at most three other students. Discussion of homework problems may include brainstorming and verbally walking through possible solutions, but should not include one person telling the others how to solve the problem. In addition, each person must write up their solutions independently, and these write-ups should not be checked against each other or passed around or emailed. You must acknowledge any collaboration by writing your collaborators' names on the front page of the assignment. You don't lose points by having collaborators.

Citation policy: Try to solve the problems without reading any published literature or websites, besides the class text and links off of the class web page. If, however, you do use a solution or part of a solution that you found in the literature or on the web, you must cite it. Furthermore, you must write up the solution in your own words. You will get at most half credit for solutions found in the literature or on the web.

Submission policy: Homeworks are due at the beginning of class. No late homeworks will be accepted.
Canvas: We will use Canvas, which contains Piazza. Homeworks and grades will be posted on Canvas. We will use Piazza for class discussion. Instead of emailing questions to the teaching staff, please post your question to Piazza.
Laptops/Phones: The use of laptops and mobile devices is generally prohibited; however, I will allow use of tablets if you sit in the first row and only use them for class-related purposes. Other exceptions may be made in unusual circumstances. All phones must be silenced.
Students with
Disabilites:
Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities area of the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259 (voice) or 471-4641 (TTY for users who are deaf or hard of hearing) as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations.

Last modified: January 25, 2019.