Estimates of the distance distribution of codes and designs (01 March 2001)

We consider the problem of bounding the distance distribution for unrestricted block codes with known distance and/or dual distance. Applying the polynomial method, we provide a general framework for previously known results. 

We derive several upper and lower bounds both for finite length and for sequences of codes of growing length. Asymptotic results in the paper improve previously known estimates. In particular, we prove the best known bounds on the binomiality range of the distance spectrum of codes with a known dual distance.