An enhanced method based on intermediate significant bit technique for watermark images

Intermediate Significant Bit digital watermarking technique (ISB) is a new approved technique of embedding a watermark by replacing the original image pixels with new pixels. This is done by ensuring a close connection between the new pixels and the original, and at the same time, the watermark data can be protected against possible damage. One of the most popular methods used in watermarking is the Least Significant Bit (LSB). It uses a spatial domain that includes the insertion of the watermark in the LSB of the image. The problem with this method is it is not resilient to common damage, and there is the possibility of image distortion after embedding a watermark. LSB may be used through replacing one bit, two bits, or three bits; this is done by changing the specific bits without any change in the other bits in the pixel. The objective of this thesis is to formulate new algorithms for digital image watermarking with enhanced image quality and robustness by embedding two bits of watermark data into each pixel of the original image based on ISB technique. However, to understand the opposite relationship between the image quality and robustness, a tradeoff between them has been done to create a balance and to acquire the best position for the two embedding bits. Dual Intermediate Significant Bits (DISB) technique has been proposed to solve the existing LSB problem. Trial results obtained from this technique are better compared with the LSB based on the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Normalized Cross Correlation (NCC). The work in this study also contributes new mathematical equations that can study the change on the other six bits in the pixel after embedding two bits

The framework of P systems applied to solve optimal watermarking problem

Membrane computing (known as P systems) is a novel class of distributed parallel computing models inspired by the structure and functioning of living cells and organs, and its application to the real-world problems has become a hot topic in recent years. This paper discusses an interesting open problem in digital watermarking domain, optimal watermarking problem, and proposes a new optimal image watermarking method under the framework of P systems. A special membrane structure is designed and its cells as parallel computing units are used to find the optimal watermarking parameters for image blocks. Some cells use the position-velocity model to evolve watermarking parameters of image blocks, while another cell evaluates the objects in the system. In addition to the evolution rules, communication rules are used to exchange and share information between the cells. Simulation experiments on large image set compare the proposed framework with other existing watermarking methods and demonstrate its superiority.National Natural Science Foundation of China No 61170030Chunhui Project Foundation of the Education Department of China No. Z2012025Chunhui Project Foundation of the Education Department of China No. Z2012031Sichuan Key Technology Research and Development Program No. 2013GZX015

Adaptive digital watermarking scheme based on support vector machines and optimized genetic algorithm

Digital watermarking is an effective solution to the problem of copyright protection, thus maintaining the security of digital products in the network. An improved scheme to increase the robustness of embedded information on the basis of discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain is proposed in this study. The embedding process consisted of two main procedures. Firstly, the embedding intensity with support vector machines (SVMs) was adaptively strengthened by training 1600 image blocks which are of different texture and luminance. Secondly, the embedding position with the optimized genetic algorithm (GA) was selected. To optimize GA, the best individual in the first place of each generation directly went into the next generation, and the best individual in the second position participated in the crossover and the mutation process. The transparency reaches 40.5 when GA’s generation number is 200. A case study was conducted on a 256 × 256 standard Lena image with the proposed method. After various attacks (such as cropping, JPEG compression, Gaussian low-pass filtering (3, 0. 5), histogram equalization, and contrast increasing (0.5, 0.6)) on the watermarked image, the extracted watermark was compared with the original one. Results demonstrate that the watermark can be effectively recovered after these attacks. Even though the algorithm is weak against rotation attacks, it provides high quality in imperceptibility and robustness and hence it is a successful candidate for implementing novel image watermarking scheme meeting real timelines

Modified DCT-based Audio Watermarking Optimization using Genetics Algorithm

Ease process digital data information exchange impact on the increase in cases of copyright infringement. Audio watermarking is one solution in providing protection for the owner of the work. This research aims to optimize the insertion parameters on Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (M-DCT) based audio watermarking using a genetic algorithm, to produce better audio resistance. MDCT is applied after reading host audio, then embedding in MDCT domain is applied by Quantization Index Modulation (QIM) technique. Insertion within the MDCT domain is capable of generating a high imperceptible watermarked audio due to its overlapping frame system. The system is optimized using genetic algorithms to improve the value of imperceptibility and robustness in audio watermarking. In this research, the average SNR reaches 20 dB, and ODG reaches -0.062. The subjective quality testing on the system obtains an average MOS of 4.22 out of five songs tested. In addition, the system is able to withstand several attacks. The use of M-DCT in audio watermaking is capable of producing excellent imperceptibility and better watermark robustness

Spread Spectrum Watermarking: Principles and Applications in Fading Channel

ISBN 978-953-51-0618-

PSO Based Lossless and Robust Image Watermarking using Integer Wavelet Transform

In recent days, the advances in the broadcasting of multimedia contents in digital format motivate to protect this digital multimedia content form illegal use, such as manipulation, duplication and redistribution. However, watermarking algorithms are designed to meet the requirements of different applications, because, various applications have various requirements. This paper intends to design a new watermarking algorithm with an aim of provision of a tradeoff between the robustness and imperceptibility and also to reduce the information loss. This approach applies Integer Wavelet Transform (IWT) instead of conventional floating point wavelet transforms which are having main drawback of round of error. Then the most popular artificial intelligence technique, particle swarm optimization (PSO) used for optimization of watermarking strength. The strength of watermarking technique is directly related to the watermarking constant alpha. The PSO optimizes alpha values such that, the proposed approach achieves better robustness over various attacks and an also efficient imperceptibility. Numerous experiments are conducted over the proposed approach to evaluate the performance. The obtained experimental results demonstrates that the proposed approach is superior compared to conventional approach and is able to provide efficient resistance over Gaussian noise, sal

Employing Psychoacoustic Model for Digital Audio Watermarking

This thesis discusses about digital audio watermarking by employing psychoacoustic model to make the watermarked signal inaudible to the audience. Due to the digital media data able to distribute easily without losing of data information, thus the intellectual property of musical creators and distributor may affected by this kind of circumstance . To prevent this, we propose the usage of spread spectrum technique and psychoacoustic model for embedding process, zero-forcing equalization and detection and wiener filtering for extracting process. Three samples of audio signal have been chosen for this experiment which are categorized as quiet, moderate, and noise state signal. The findings shows that our watermarking scheme achieved the intended purposes which are to test digital audio watermarking by employing psychoacoustic model, to embed different length of messages to test on accuracy of extracted data and to study the suitability on using hash function for verification of modification attacks

Reversible Image Watermarking Using Modified Quadratic Difference Expansion and Hybrid Optimization Technique

With increasing copyright violation cases, watermarking of digital images is a very popular solution for securing online media content. Since some sensitive applications require image recovery after watermark extraction, reversible watermarking is widely preferred. This article introduces a Modified Quadratic Difference Expansion (MQDE) and fractal encryption-based reversible watermarking for securing the copyrights of images. First, fractal encryption is applied to watermarks using Tromino's L-shaped theorem to improve security. In addition, Cuckoo Search-Grey Wolf Optimization (CSGWO) is enforced on the cover image to optimize block allocation for inserting an encrypted watermark such that it greatly increases its invisibility. While the developed MQDE technique helps to improve coverage and visual quality, the novel data-driven distortion control unit ensures optimal performance. The suggested approach provides the highest level of protection when retrieving the secret image and original cover image without losing the essential information, apart from improving transparency and capacity without much tradeoff. The simulation results of this approach are superior to existing methods in terms of embedding capacity. With an average PSNR of 67 dB, the method shows good imperceptibility in comparison to other schemes