Network Coding: An Instant Primer

This lecture introduces the concept of network coding, a new research area with potential applications in practical networking systems. Network coding allows intermediate nodes to send out packets that are linear combinations of previously received information, leading to potential throughput improvements and a high degree of robustness. The lecture explains how network coding works, discusses theoretical implications, and showcases practical applications. It covers linear network coding, its benefits, implications for realistic settings, and utilization in practice.