Abstract

Most people are familiar with SUDOKU puzzles published in our daily newspapers. There is a close connection between SUDOKU puzzles and error-correction codes used in telecommunication receivers. The algorithm that runs in our brains to solve SUDOKU puzzles is similar to the iterative decoding algorithms for Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes.

While this connection is obvious to coding theorists, we are not aware that anyone has constructed coding systems based on SUDOKU puzzles. We set about realising such a system as a simple and fun exercise. As this talk will illustrate, this turned out not to be as simple as first appeared, and soon became a complex engineering project bringing together many techniques from coding, information theory, and mathematics.

This talk will not assume any prior knowledge of error correction coding and will introduce every technique used in a tutorial manner. Although SUDOKU puzzles will also be introduced, members of the audience are encouraged to solve many puzzles in preparation for the talk as it will make it easier for them to follow the arguments.