Michael George Luby

Digital Library

ACM Fellows

USA - 2015

citation

For contributions to coding theory, cryptography, parallel algorithms and derandomization.

Press Release

ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award

USA - 2015

citation

For ground-breaking contributions to erasure correcting codes, which are essential for improving the quality of video transmission over the Internet.

Michael Luby has made a series of significant theoretical contributions with high practical impact. Starting with his seminal work on de-randomization, Luby's Algorithm for Maximal Independent Sets, and continuing with the analysis of equivalence of pseudo-random number generators and one-way functions, Luby has made profound contributions to the theory of algorithms, error-correcting codes and cryptography. He developed Tornado Codes, which opened a whole new subfield of coding theory for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. Furthermore, he developed the theory for Fountain Codes and the highly efficient LT codes, providing an elegant, compact and practical solution. Luby's impact on practice is equally profound. Rooted in his theoretical achievements, Luby made ground-breaking contributions to erasure error correcting codes, which are essential for video transmission over the internet. Luby's work is at the heart of several widely used standards, like the 3GPP, DVB-IPDC, DVB-S2 standards for satellite TV, 10GBase T-Ethernet, and WiFi 802.11x standards.
Press Release

ACM Fellows Named For Computing Innovations That Are Advancing Technology In The Digital Age

ACM has recognized 42 of its members for their significant contributions to the development and application of computing in areas from data management and spoken-language processing to robotics and cryptography. The achievements of the 2015 ACM Fellows are fueling advances in computing that are driving the growth of the global digital economy.

"Whether they work in leading universities, corporations, or research laboratories, these newly minted ACM Fellows are responsible for the breakthroughs and industrial innovations that are transforming society at every level," explains ACM President Alexander L. Wolf.  "At times, the contributions of a Fellow may include enhancements to a device that immediately impacts our daily lives. At other times, new research discoveries lead to theoretical advances that, while perhaps not immediately perceptible, have substantial long-term impacts."

The 2015 ACM Fellows have been cited for contributions to key computing fields including software research, data mining, computer graphics, computer and mobile systems, system security, multiprocessor and memory architecture design, and research in sensor networks.

ACM will formally recognize the 2015 ACM Fellows at its annual Awards Banquet in June 2016 in San Francisco, California.

Recipient of 2015 ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award Announced

ACM announced the recipients of four prestigious technical awards:  ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award, ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award, ACM-AAAI Allen Newell Award, and ACM Software System Award. These innovators were selected by their peers for making significant contributions that enable the computing field to solve real-world challenges. The awards reflect achievements in cryptography, network coding systems, computer-human interaction, and software systems. The 2015 recipients will be formally honored at the ACM Awards Banquet on June 11 in San Francisco.

Michael Luby, recipient of the ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award for groundbreaking contributions to erasure correcting codes, which are essential for improving the quality of video transmission over the Internet. An important aspect of coding theory is to ensure that it is possible to recover data at a receiver transmitted from a sender, despite the fact that errors, often occurring naturally from “noise” on a channel, can impair the transmission. In coding theory, Luby made several theoretical contributions —including, but not limited to, Tornado Codes, Fountain Codes, and LT Codes — that have led to major advances in the reliable transmission and recoverability of data across mobile, broadcast and satellite channels. His work on erasure correcting codes has had an especially significant impact on the ability to stream videos, including mobile broadcast TV channels. Luby’s contributions have been applied to military technology as well as consumer devices in both wired and wireless networks. Luby is a vice president of technology at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, and an ACM Fellow.