Distributed Coding of Shifts Using the DFT Phase

In this paper we consider the problem of image encoding with side information at the decoder, where the side information is an integer shifted version of the image at the encoder. The encoder is asked to send the shift of its own image with respect to the side information which is only available at the decoder. We propose a solution based on the encoding of the phase sign of the DFT coefficients, taken at exponentially spaced positions. We first introduce the method under ideal hypothesis, i.e. noiseless conditions without border effects, giving a theoretical foundation to the technique. Then, we consider the more realistic case of noisy images with border effects, showing the effectiveness of the proposed method

Spread spectrum-based video watermarking algorithms for copyright protection

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/2263 on 14.03.2017 by CS (TIS)Digital technologies know an unprecedented expansion in the last years. The consumer can now benefit from hardware and software which was considered state-of-the-art several years ago. The advantages offered by the digital technologies are major but the same digital technology opens the door for unlimited piracy. Copying an analogue VCR tape was certainly possible and relatively easy, in spite of various forms of protection, but due to the analogue environment, the subsequent copies had an inherent loss in quality. This was a natural way of limiting the multiple copying of a video material. With digital technology, this barrier disappears, being possible to make as many copies as desired, without any loss in quality whatsoever. Digital watermarking is one of the best available tools for fighting this threat. The aim of the present work was to develop a digital watermarking system compliant with the recommendations drawn by the EBU, for video broadcast monitoring. Since the watermark can be inserted in either spatial domain or transform domain, this aspect was investigated and led to the conclusion that wavelet transform is one of the best solutions available. Since watermarking is not an easy task, especially considering the robustness under various attacks several techniques were employed in order to increase the capacity/robustness of the system: spread-spectrum and modulation techniques to cast the watermark, powerful error correction to protect the mark, human visual models to insert a robust mark and to ensure its invisibility. The combination of these methods led to a major improvement, but yet the system wasn't robust to several important geometrical attacks. In order to achieve this last milestone, the system uses two distinct watermarks: a spatial domain reference watermark and the main watermark embedded in the wavelet domain. By using this reference watermark and techniques specific to image registration, the system is able to determine the parameters of the attack and revert it. Once the attack was reverted, the main watermark is recovered. The final result is a high capacity, blind DWr-based video watermarking system, robust to a wide range of attacks.BBC Research & Developmen

Minimal Information Exchange for Image Registration

In this paper we consider the problem of estimating the relative shift, scale and rotation between two images X and Y that are available to two users, respectively A and B, connected through a channel. User A is asked to send B some specifically selected minimal description of image X that will allow B to recover the relative shift, rotation and scale between X and Y. The approach is based on a distributed encoding technique applied to the Discrete Fourier Transform phase and to the Fourier-Mellin transform of the images

Diversity gain for DVB-H by using transmitter/receiver cyclic delay diversity

The objective of this paper is to investigate different diversity techniques for broadcast networks that will minimize the complexity and improve received SNR of broadcast systems. Resultant digital broadcast networks would require fewer transmitter sites and thus be more cost-effective and have less environmental impact. The techniques can be applied to DVB-T, DVB-H and DAB systems that use Orthogonal Frequency Division Multplexing (OFDM). These are key radio broadcast network technologies, which are expected to complement emerging technologies such as WiMAX and future 4G networks for delivery of broadband content. Transmitter and receiver diversity technologies can increase the frequency and time selectivity of the resulting channel transfer function at the receiver. Diversity exploits the statistical nature of fading due to multipath and reduces the likelihood of deep fading by providing a diversity of transmission signals. Multiple signals are transmitted in such a way as to ensure that several signals reach the receiver each with uncorrelated fading. Transmit diversity is more practical than receive diversity due to the difficulty of locating two receive antennas far enough apart in a small mobile device. The schemes examined here comply with existing DVB standards and can be incorporated into existing systems without change. The diversity techniques introduced in this paper are applied to the DVB-H system. Bit error performance investigations were conducted by simulation for different DVB-H and diversity parameters