Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Scaling and Concentration Laws in Information Theory

Project description

Arbitrary scaling laws in information theory

Shannon’s 1948 paper established the foundations of digital communication, introducing the concept of rate as the growth of messages. The probabilistic law governing general information processing systems may be such that the optimal number of messages does not scale exponentially with the length of the sequences. Most literature overlooks alternative scaling functions. Understanding these scaling laws is crucial for improving system design. The ERC-funded SCLIT project will create a unified framework for studying information theory with arbitrary scaling laws by utilising information spectrum techniques and concentration methods. In addition, it will address penalties due to suboptimal decoding and develop coding solutions that approach theoretical limits. This innovative approach will advance information theory and its applications in information sciences and systems.

Objective

Shannon’s 1948 paper established the mathematical foundations of digital compression and transmission and paved the way for the information age. A notion embedded in Shannon’s and most work in Information Theory is the concept of rate, defined as the exponential growth rate of the number of messages. The probabilistic law governing general information processing systems may be such that the optimal number of messages does not scale exponentially with the length of the sequences. The vast majority of the Information Theory literature assumes an exponential number of messages and thus, ignores the rich amount of possible scaling functions in important settings. When the system probability law is such that the optimal rate scaling is not exponential, standard techniques cannot be applied and new techniques must be sought. A fundamental understanding of the impact of general scaling laws is crucial to harvesting the potential gains in practical system design. This project is aimed at contributing towards the ambitious goal of providing a unified framework for the study of Information Theory with arbitrary scaling laws. The unified framework will be based on information spectrum and concentration techniques will also consider the penalties incurred by sub-optimal decoding for systems described by general probabilistic laws. The project will also provide coding solutions that approach the theoretical limits. This unconventional and challenging treatment of Information Theory will advance the area and will contribute to Information Sciences and Systems disciplines where Information Theory is relevant. A comprehensive study of the fundamental limits and optimal code design with general scaling laws will represent a major step forward in the field, with the potential to provide new tools and techniques to solve open problems in close disciplines.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2023-ADG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 523 391,25
Address
CALLE JORDI GIRONA 31
08034 Barcelona
Spain

See on map

Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 523 391,25

Beneficiaries (2)

My booklet 0 0