Trace reconstruction from local statistical queries

The goal of trace reconstruction is to reconstruct an unknown $n$-bit string $x$ given only independent random traces of $x$, where a random trace of $x$ is obtained by passing $x$ through a deletion channel. A Statistical Query (SQ) algorithm for trace reconstruction is an algorithm which can only access statistical information about the distribution of random traces of $x$ rather than individual traces themselves. Such an algorithm is said to be $\ell$-local if each of its statistical queries corresponds to an $\ell$-junta function over some block of $\ell$ consecutive bits in the trace. Since several -- but not all -- known algorithms for trace reconstruction fall under the local statistical query paradigm, it is interesting to understand the abilities and limitations of local SQ algorithms for trace reconstruction. In this paper we establish nearly-matching upper and lower bounds on local Statistical Query algorithms for both worst-case and average-case trace reconstruction. For the worst-case problem, we show that there is an $\tilde{O}(n^{1/5})$-local SQ algorithm that makes all its queries with tolerance $τ\geq 2^{-\tilde{O}(n^{1/5})}$, and also that any $\tilde{O}(n^{1/5})$-local SQ algorithm must make some query with tolerance $τ\leq 2^{-\tildeΩ(n^{1/5})}$. For the average-case problem, we show that there is an $O(\log n)$-local SQ algorithm that makes all its queries with tolerance $τ\geq 1/\mathrm{poly}(n)$, and also that any $O(\log n)$-local SQ algorithm must make some query with tolerance $τ\leq 1/\mathrm{poly}(n).$