Hamming Code

Hamming Code is a \((n,k)\) #Linear Block Code that can correct only single errors#. It must satisfy the following property:

  • \(n = 2^m - 1\)
  • \(k = 2^m - m - 1\)
  • \(n - k = m\)
  • \(t = 1\)

Where:

  • \(n\) is the code length
  • \(m\) is the number of parity bits, usually equals to or larger than 3
  • \(k\) is the number of information bits
  • \(t\) is the error correction capability

Since we need all \(n\) rows in \(H^T\) to be distinct, we need \(2^{n-k} - 1 \ge n\) or the number of parity bits satisfies \((n-k) \ge \lg (n + 1)\).

#math