Maximum distance separable convolutional codes (Q1304763)

A maximum distance separable (MDS) block code is a linear code whose distance is maximal among all linear block codes of rate \(k/n\). It is well known that MDS block codes do exist if the field size is greater than \(n\). In this paper this concept is generalized to the class of convolutional codes of a fixed rate \(k/n\) and a fixed code degree \(\delta\). In order to achieve this result the authors introduce a natural upper bound for the free distance generalizing the Singleton bound. The main result of the paper shows that this upper bound can be achieved in all cases if one allows sufficiently many field elements.