On optimal superimposed codes

Abstract

A (w,r) cover-free family is a family of subsets of a finite set such that no intersection of w members of the family is covered by a union of r others. A binary (w,r) superimposed code is the incidence matrix of such a family. Such a family also arises in cryptography as a concept of key distribution patterns. In this paper, we develop a method of constructing superimposed codes and prove that some superimposed codes constructed in this way are optimal. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.