2014 IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal for Ruediger Urbanke
© 2014 EPFL
Ruediger Urbanke, Professor at the EPFL's School of Computer and Communication Sciences has been awarded the IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal, which is given for exceptional contributions to information science, systems and technology. This award is one of the highest professional honors bestowed by IEEE.
Ruediger Urbanke along with his longtime collaborator Thomas J. Richardson developed iterative coding theory and the practical application for near-capacity data transmission. The IEEE rewards them for their work and has given them the 2014 IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal. The IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional association.
The award comes with the following citation:
"For fundamental contributions to coding theory, iterative information processing and applications."
Considered the world’s leading experts on iterative decoding, Ruediger Urbanke and Thomas J. Richardson have helped optimize data transmission rates for optical and wireless communications with techniques that achieve near-channel capacity. To approach “Shannon’s limit,” which establishes the maximum rate for communications over a noisy channel, they expanded on low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes and provided a better understanding of iterative decoding procedures. The result has been reliable data transmission at rates close to channel capacity with low errors. Known for the ability to transfer coding theory to practical applications, their work has been integral to today’s high-speed communications and data storage systems. LDPC codes are components of many communications standards: WiFi (IEEE 802.11); Digital Video Broadcasting standards; 10GBase-T Ethernet; and the ITU-T standard for networking over power lines, phone lines and coaxial cable.
For nearly a century, the IEEE Awards Program has paid tribute to researchers, inventors, innovators and practitioners whose exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions have made a lasting impact on technology, society and the engineering profession. Each year the IEEE Awards Board recommends a small number of outstanding individuals for IEEE's most prestigious honors.
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