Peter Franaszek

Name: Peter A. Franaszek

Born: Unknown

Computer-related contributions

• American information theorist who help set the direction for modern constrained coding in digital recording and communication systems.
• First to develop practical methods for the construction of RLL (run-length limited) codes. RLLs ensure that the boundary lengths between bits of data are neither too short nor too long to be detected, maximizing storage density in binary storage media.
• His coding research determined fundamental aspects of constrained coding, and obtained algorithms for code construction.
• His work served as a basis for key components in the proliferation of disk drives, CDs (compact disks), and DVDs (digital versatile disks).
• Together with Albert Widmer, he designed 8b/10b encoding used in gigabit telecommunication systems.

Significant publications

• Data Compression with Restricted Parsings (2006).
• Victim management in a cache hierarchy (2006).
• IBM Memory Expansion Technology (MXT) (2001).

Honors and awards

• IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal (2009).
• ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award (2002).
• IEEE Emanuel R. Piore Award (1989).