A reversible data hiding scheme using complementary embedding strategy

Obtaining good visual quality and high hiding capacity with reversible data hiding systems is a technically challenging problem. In this paper, we propose a simple reversible data hiding scheme that uses a complementary hiding strategy. The proposed method embeds one secret bit horizontally and vertically into one cover pixel of a grayscale cover image by decreasing odd-valued pixels and increasing even-valued pixels by one. Experimental results show that the hiding capacity measured by bit per pixel (bpp) of the proposed scheme is at least 1.21 bpp with a PSNR (peak signal-to-noise ratio) value greater than 52 dB for all standard test images. Especially in the case of four-layer embedding, the PSNR value of the proposed method is still greater than 51 dB at a hiding capacity of about 5 bpp for all standard test images. In addition, the proposed method is quite simple because it primarily uses additions and subtractions. These results indicate that the proposed scheme is superior to many existing reversible data hiding schemes introduced in the literature.     

High-capacity image hiding scheme based on vector quantization

A novel grayscale image hiding scheme that is capable of hiding multiple secret images into a host image of the same size is proposed in this paper. The secret images to be hidden are first compressed by vector quantization with additional index compression process. Then, the compressed secret images are encrypted and embedded into the least-significant bits of the host pixels. To provide good image quality of the stego-image, the modulus function and the image property are employed to hide the secret bits into the host pixels and determine the number of hidden bits in each host pixel, respectively. According to the results, the proposed scheme provides a higher hiding capacity and a higher degree of security than that of the virtual image cryptosystem.     

基于码分多址复用的双重加密可逆信息隐藏

针对多数密文域可逆信息隐藏算法嵌入容量小、加密算法单一的问题,提出一种双重加密的方法,并利用码分多址复用（CDMA）的思想嵌入秘密信息。加密时将图像分块,先对像素块进行多粒度置乱加密,再对块中每个像素的中间2位用流密码加密。信息嵌入采用码分多址的思想,选取k个长为4的相互正交的矩阵嵌入k层秘密信息,利用矩阵的正交性实现秘密信息多层嵌入,在提高嵌入容量的同时保证了对像素点的较小改变。对不满足嵌入条件的像素块嵌入伪比特,可避免使用位置图。拥有信息提取密钥的合法接收者可以提取秘密信息;拥有图像解密密钥可以近似恢复原始图像;拥有两种密钥既可提取秘密信息又可无损恢复原始图像。实验结果表明,512×512灰度图像Lena在峰值信噪比（PSNR）大于36 dB时最大嵌入容量133 313 bit。所提算法增强了加密图像安全性,在保证可逆性的同时大大提高密文域可逆信息隐藏嵌入容量。     

A high-capacity reversible data hiding scheme based on sorting and prediction in digital images

In this paper, a new reversible data hiding method based on sorting and prediction in digital images is proposed. The proposed method can embed two bits in the 3 × 1 sub-block at maximum by dividing into two groups - min and max groups. The pixel pairs of the min group and max group are firstly predicted and then are modified to embed the secret bits. The reversibility is guaranteed since the order of pixel pairs of the sub-block is not changed after embedding a secret bit into two groups. The experimental results show that the proposed method provides high embedding capacity than the previous works.     

Adaptive data hiding for vector quantization images based on overlapping codeword clustering

In this paper, an overlapping codeword clustering based data hiding scheme is presented. In this scheme, a mapping table is designed to determine the overlapping codeword clustering and to indicate the index modification in the secret embedding. The mapping table explores the relationship among the sub-codebook’s size, the codeword’s order and the embedding secret message to which the codeword overlapping in sub-codebooks with different sizes is permitted. In addition, the secret embedding is also determined according to the mapping table.The experimental results showed that the number of partitioned sub-codebooks was increased significantly. The average hiding capacity was about 30 K bits while the average embedding distortion was about 1.2 dB. In comparison to similar methods, the proposed scheme provided a larger hiding capacity than others while preserving a similar stego-image quality. Furthermore, the proposed scheme offered a better proportion of hiding compared to image distortion.     

An encoding method for both image compression and data lossless information hiding

Reversible image data hiding technology means the cover image can be totally recovered after the embedded secret data is extracted. In this paper, we propose a reversible image data hiding scheme based on vector quantization (VQ) compressed images. The secret bits are embedded into the VQ index table by modifying the index value according to the difference of neighboring indices. The data hiding capacity and the size of the final codestream (embedded result) are a trade-off, and it can be decided by users. In other words, the proposed scheme has flexible hiding capacity ability. To estimate the performance, the proposed scheme was compared with the scheme proposed by Wang and Lu (2009). The results of the comparison showed that our proposed scheme is superior to the scheme proposed by Wang and Lu in both data hiding capacity and bit rate.     

利用像素置换的自适应可逆信息隐藏

目的 像素置换作为一种可逆信息隐藏方式具有良好的抗灰度直方图隐写分析能力,但嵌入容量偏小一直是其缺陷。针对这一问题,提出了一种基于像素置换的自适应可逆信息隐藏算法。方法 首先,与传统2×2像素块结构相比构造了尺寸更小的像素对结构,使得载体图像可以被更稠密地分割,为嵌入容量的提升提供了基数条件。其次,提出适用于该新像素结构的可嵌像素对（EPP）筛选条件,避免嵌入过程引起图像质量大幅下降。之后,根据EPP的灰度趋势差异对其进行自适应预编码,提高Huffman编码压缩比,进一步提升算法嵌入容量。最终,通过像素置换嵌入信息。结果 与2×2像素块结构的非自适应图像隐写算法相比,在同样保证灰度直方图稳定性的情况下该算法的PSNR提高了32%左右,嵌入容量提高了95%以上。其中自适应性对嵌入容量提升的贡献极大。结论 本文算法同时具有抗灰度直方图隐写分析能力与高嵌入容量性的可逆信息隐藏。算法构造了更高效的可嵌单位,并且针对不同载体图像的特点对其可嵌区域进行差异化编码。实验结果表明,本文算法在具有更好的不可见性的同时,嵌入容量得到大幅提升。     

Extended squared magic matrix for embedding secret information with large payload

Data hiding is a technology designed for safely transmitting secret data through open communication channels, in which the secret data are embedded into a cover carrier imperceptibly. Among the existing data hiding schemes, the exploiting-modification-direction (EMD) based schemes draw considerable attentions due to large embedding capacity. The proposed scheme improves the EMD-2 scheme by constructing an extended squared magic matrix, resulting in a larger embedding capacity high up to 3.15 bits per pixel (bpp). Experimental results show that the proposed scheme outperforms state-of-the-art reference matrix based schemes in terms of embedding capacity, meanwhile, maintains good image quality.

     

一种基于LSB的数字图像信息隐藏算法

根据载体图像和嵌入量的大小,利用随机函数确定出嵌入字节的位置,使嵌入信息分布均匀;研究了异或运算的性质,结合位平面的特点,通过位的异或运算,实现秘密信息嵌入;对嵌入的字节最多只需修改一位,可在该字节中同时嵌入两位秘密信息,提高了秘密信息嵌入量,并能无损还原.理论分析和实验结果证明了算法的有效性.     

结合层次结构和直方图平移的无损数据隐藏

针对现有基于差值直方图方法利用原始图像结构关系上的不足,提出了一种基于层次结构和差值直方图平移的无损数据隐藏方法RDH-HSDHS。RDH-HSDHS利用原始图像数据块中像素的差值形成直方图,充分利用图像中相邻像素间的相关性嵌入数据,为了进一步利用数据块中的参考像素进行数据嵌入,将参考像素组成新的图像进行下一层水印嵌入,直到当前层的嵌入容量小于解码所需的附加信息的长度或隐秘图像质量小于给定阈值。实验仿真结果表明,RDH-HSDHS能较好利用原始图像的全局和局部特性,在嵌入容量和隐秘图像质量之间达到较好的折中,在隐秘图像质量超过30 dB的同时,嵌入容量大于0.75 bit/pixel。另外,与相似方法的性能比较证明了提出方法的优势。该方法能有效应用于高质量需求的图像载体中进行信息隐藏。     

改进的双线性插值算法在信息隐藏中的应用*

针对传统信息隐藏算法隐藏容量小和对图像质量影响较大的缺点,提出了一种新的信息隐藏算法。利用灰度级插值的方法来修改秘密信息嵌入点的像素灰度值,为隐藏秘密信息创造出更大的冗余空间;同时采用新的相邻像素差值计算方法以实现秘密信息的嵌入,使得嵌入大量秘密信息后,载密图像的质量得到很好的保证。实验结果表明,当PSNR＞40 dB时,最低也可以隐藏145 800 bit。与传统的算法相比,隐藏容量有了更大提升的同时,PSNR值也保持在很高的水平。     

彩色图像信息密写新方法

为实现彩色图像中的安全隐写,首先通过混沌映射算法将图像去相关处理,再经过离散正弦变换, 提出以彩色图像为载体的安全隐写方法,应用二值图像信息嵌入技术,将隐蔽信息隐藏在颜色分量的较高层位面中,可实现优良的隐蔽性和较大的嵌入量。所使用的二值图像数据隐藏方案包括一组完备的规则,能够准确判断边缘像素是否可承载嵌入数据,保证嵌入数据的无差错盲提取,并可引入密钥以增强安全性。实验表明,在彩色图像中数据嵌入量达到每像素1.5 b时视觉不可察觉,峰值信噪比保持在40 dB以上,直方图无异常,并能抵御多种有效的隐写分析算法,兼顾了隐蔽信息容量和安全性。同时,解决了含密图像进行压缩或作任何有损的格式变换、数据嵌入、信息提取、抵御隐写分析算法难题。     

A novel high payload steganography scheme based on absolute moment block truncation coding

In this paper, we propose an efficient steganography method in the compressed codes of absolute moment block truncation coding (AMBTC). Many recent related schemes focus on implementing reversible data hiding in compressed AMBTC bit stream. However, the reconstructed image of AMBTC is already lossy and the strict reversibility severely limits embedding capacity. Due to the simplicity and regularity of AMBTC codes, implementing irreversible hiding scheme causes very slight loss visual distortion of reconstructed image in exchange of significant improve in embedding capacity. In proposed scheme, smoothness of AMBTC compressed trio is firstly detected, which is then indicated by substituting the LSB of high quantity level with flag bit. For smooth trios, the differences between both quantity levels are firstly encoded by Huffman coding and then concatenated with secret data to generate modified low quantity levels. Meanwhile, all bits in bit planes of smooth trios are substituted with secret data as well. For complex trio, secret bits are only embedded into quantity levels, which is similar to smooth trio except for the differences are encoded by Lloyd-Max quantization. Experimental results indicate that proposed scheme outperforms prior methods both in imperceptivity and embedding capacity, which confirms the effectiveness and superiority of our work.

     

Development of a data hiding scheme based on combination theory for lowering the visual noise in binary images

In order to raise the embedding capacity and simultaneously reduce the artifact effect caused by embedding secret messages into binary images, a novel data hiding method based on the combination theory is proposed. In the proposed scheme, a secret position matrix is designed to improve the hiding capacity which is capable of preventing the least distortion based on the combination theory. Our new scheme enables users to conceal more than one bit of secret data by changing at most one pixel in one subimage. We have derived a formula for computing the payload and the possible modification pixels of a block. Compared with the existing schemes in terms of the hiding capacity and the visual artifacts, as our experimental results show, the proposed scheme is capable of providing a better image quality protector even with a more efficient secret data hider.     

基于自适应MSB与差值预测的大容量密文域可逆信息隐藏算法

为提高密文域可逆信息隐藏（reversible data hiding in encrypted images,RDH-EI）的嵌入容量,提出了一种基于自适应MSB（most significant bit）与差值预测的RDH-EI方案。首先将图像进行分块,然后进行块级加密和置乱以抵抗对于加密图像的分析。在嵌入数据阶段,对于自适应MSB预测的方法进行改进,将没有嵌入数据的块,利用部分块内像素之间差值很小的特点采用自适应差值预测的方法嵌入数据,以块中左上角像素为目标像素,用于预测其他像素从而腾出更多的嵌入空间。实验结果表明,所提方法具有可逆性和可分离性,并且在自适应MSB预测方法的基础上进一步提高了嵌入容量,对于512×512大小的灰度图像,平均嵌入容量提高了大约7 445 bit。     

密文域高嵌入率图像全位面可逆数据隐藏

目的 针对现有的加密域可逆信息隐藏算法未能充分利用图像的全部位平面的问题,提出了一种密文域高嵌入率图像全位面可逆数据隐藏。方法 对载体图像进行加密,然后将隐蔽信息嵌入到加密图像中,进行隐蔽传输,发送给接收者。本文将灰度图像的8个位平面都用来进行数据嵌入,并把每个位平面划分成不重叠的块,分为非连续块（块内像素值0,1都存在）和连续块（块内为全0或全1像素值）,按块进行重排列且将排列前的块标签嵌入到重排列图像中,使用流密码对图像进行加密。在数据嵌入阶段,提出了带修正信息的像素预测方法用于非连续块的嵌入。连续块中,保持块内右下角像素值不变,用于连续块的恢复,其他位置嵌入数据;非连续块中,对预测正确的像素嵌入数据,预测错误的像素保持不变。结果 实验过程实现了多种密文域可逆数据隐藏算法,本文进行大量对比实验,并在BOSSbase和BOWS-2数据集上进行验证,与其他方法比较,本文方法在BOSSbase和BOWS-2数据集上的嵌入率分别提升了42.1%和43.3%。结论 提出的加密图像可逆数据隐藏方案,通过对不同性质的块采用不同方法进行数据嵌入,利用图像全位面信息,使得方案能够获得更高的嵌入率,表明了本文方法的有效性。     

Reversible data hiding for high quality images exploiting interpolation and direction order mechanism

Reversible data hiding can restore the original image from the stego image without any distortion after the embedded secret message is exactly extracted. In this paper, a novel, reversible, data hiding scheme for high quality images is proposed in spatial domain. To increase embedding capacity and enhance image quality, the proposed scheme classifies all pixels as wall pixels and non-wall pixels. For wall pixel, the interpolation error is used to embed secret data over the interpolation prediction method. In contrast, the difference value between the non-wall pixel and its parent pixel, which is defined by the direction order, is computed to hide secret data based on the histogram shifting. The experimental results demonstrate that our scheme provides a larger payload and a better image quality than some existing schemes. Moreover, the performance of the proposed scheme is more stable for different images.     

A high capacity reversible data hiding scheme with edge prediction and difference expansion

To enhance the embedding capacity of a reversible data hiding system, in this paper, a novel multiple-base lossless scheme based on JPEG-LS pixel value prediction and reversible difference expansion will be presented. The proposed scheme employs a pixel value prediction mechanism to decrease the distortion caused by the hiding of the secret data. In general, the prediction error value tends to be much smaller in smooth areas than in edge areas, and more secret data embedded in smooth areas still meets better stego-image quality. The multiple-base notational system, on the other hand, is applied to increase the payload of the image. With the system, the payload of each pixel, determined by the complexity of its neighboring pixels, can be very different. In addition, the cover image processed by the proposed scheme can be fully recovered without any distortion. Experimental results, as shown in this paper, have demonstrated that the proposed method is capable of hiding more secret data while keeping the stego-image quality degradation imperceptible.     

An SMVQ-based reversible data hiding technique exploiting side match distortion

Secure online communication is a necessity in today’s digital world. This paper proposes a novel reversible data hiding technique based on side match vector quantization (SMVQ). The proposed scheme classifies SMVQ indices as Case 1 or 2 based on the value of the first state codeword’s side match distortion (SMD) and a predefined threshold t. The proposed scheme uses this classification to switch between compression codes designed for Cases 1 and 2 SMVQ indices. The length of these compression codes is controlled by the parameter ?. Thus, with the selection of appropriate ? and t values, the proposed scheme achieves good compression, creating spaces to embed secret information. The embedding algorithm can embed n secret bits into each SMVQ index, where n = 1, 2, 3, or 4. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme obtains the embedding rates of 1, 2, 3, or 4 bit per index (bpi) at the average bit rates of 0.340, 0.403, 0.465, or 0.528 bit per pixel (bpp) for the codebook size 256. This improves the performance of recent VQ and SMVQ-based data hiding schemes.     

Separable reversible data hiding in encrypted images based on scalable blocks

This paper proposes a new separable reversible data hiding method for encrypted images. Proposed scheme employs the pixel redundancy of natural images to construct embedding space. First, cover image is divided into multiple blocks with different scales. According to the pixel average value of each block, the lowest two bits of every pixel are vacated as reserved rooms. Subsequently, the whole image is encrypted by using stream cipher and the secret messages are finally embedded into the reserved rooms by the embedding key. Proposed scheme is separable in the sense that the recipient can achieve different function by the following ways: (a) If the recipient has only decryption key, an approximation plaintext image containing the embedded information can be obtained. (b) If the recipient has only embedded key, secret messages can be extracted correctly. (c) If the recipient has both decryption key and embedded key, he can not only extract the secret messages, but recover the original cover image perfectly. Extensive experiments are performed to show that our proposed schemes outperform existing reversible data hiding schemes in terms of visual quality, embedding capacity and security performance, even if a large-scale image database is used.