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Unifying Communication and Computation: A New Theory in Information Science

This paper discusses the necessity of developing a unifying theory for communication and computation, highlighting their interdependence. A reliable communication architecture is essential for effective computation, and vice versa. The analysis begins with Shannon's communication model over noisy channels, advancing through mathematical and physical frameworks that underpin encoding and decoding processes. Challenges such as miscommunication, the role of semantics, and the need for robust goals in communication are analyzed. The ultimate aim is to establish reliable, efficient communication methods that adapt to modern computational practices.

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Unifying Communication and Computation: A New Theory in Information Science

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  1. Communication & Computation A need for a new unifying theory MadhuSudan Microsoft Research + MIT Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff TexPoint fonts used in EMF. Read the TexPoint manual before you delete this box.: AAAA

  2. Theory of Communication • Shannon’s architecture for communication over noisy channel • Yields reliable communication • (and storage (= communication across time)). Decoder Encoder Noisy Channel D(Ŷ) = m? Ŷ Y m = E(m) UT-Austin: Communication & Computation

  3. Encoders & Decoders? • Mathematically: (arbitrary) functions. • Physically: Pieces of hardware – to compute certain functions. • (Mathematical/Physical question): • Why should the set of functions required have nice hardware to compute them? Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  4. Encodings of other machines Universal Machine Theory of Computing • Turing architecture → von Neumann architecture Finite State Control RAM CPU R/W One machine to rule them all! UT-Austin: Communication & Computation

  5. Consequence • Any ((polynomial time) computable) function does have nice hardware. • However … • Requires reliable CPU $ RAM • Requires reliable RAM • Conclusion: • Computing needs Communication • Communication needs Computing (we are extremely lucky to get out of the loop) Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  6. ~ 70 years since • Computing and Communication thriving • Separate theoretically • Unified physically (in gadgets in my pocket). • My Opinion: Need to unify the theories • Why? • Need to know the limits of what can be done • Need to know what is being done? • What are ? • Modern practice has rich mix of computing/communication apps? What is the problem space? What is the solution space? Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  7. Communication: Goals, Semantics • To make for reliable, useful, communication: • Need to formalize: Goals of communication • In each usage • Why is each player communicating? What is the end effect that it desires? • What is each player assuming about others? • How will it know if something goes wrong? • Communication should preserve meaning: • Players allow for, and recover from, misunderstandings at endpoints. Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  8. The Meaning of Bits Alice Channel Bob • Why did miscommunication occur? • Alice assumed Bob knows colloquial English; • But she’s actually talking to some Bob’ who doesn’t. 01001011 01001011 Freeze! Bob Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  9. Modelling Miscommunication Semantic Communication Model A1 B1 B2 A2 Channel A B B3 A3 Bj Ak Classical Shannon Model Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  10. Our claims (based on joint works with Juba, Goldreich, Kalai, Khanna) • Semantic Communication can be achieved with almost full diversity • If goals of communication are formally captured and “sensible”; and players are “helpful” [GJS] • Communication does offer advantages even in purely informational settings [JS1] • Can be attained almost w.l.o.efficiency[JS2] • Explains difference between engineered and natural communication (e.g., ambiguity in natural language) [JKKS] Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  11. Communicating Knowledge [JS1] • Knowledge (X) = Subset of Information (X) • Useful/Useable • Not known without X. [Goldwasser,Micali,Rackoff ~86] • Knowledge · Information (usually <<) • In all practical settings: Suffices to communication Knowledge. • Can be communicated with misunderstanding. • Can be used to overcome misunderstanding. • Because it is useful! Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  12. Going Forward A1 B1 B2 A2 Channel B3 A3 Bj Ak • Need to build robust theory of “why (anyone/everyone) communicate(s)” • Combine with Semantics • Needed to improve • Improve Reliability • Reduce Vulnerability • Increase efficiency • Safely transfer all information to digital form. Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

  13. References [JS1]: Juba and Sudan, STOC 2008. [GJS]: Goldreich, Juba, and Sudan, ECCC 2009 [JS2]: Juba and Sudan, ICS 2011 (to appear) [JKKS]: Juba, Kalai, Khanna, Sudan, ICS 2011 (to appear) Emerging Frontiers of Information: Kickoff

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