Robust Histogram Shape-Based Method for Image Watermarking

Cropping and random bending are two common attacks in image watermarking. In this paper we propose a novel image-watermarking method to deal with these attacks, as well as other common attacks. In the embedding process, we first preprocess the host image by a Gaussian low-pass filter. Then, a secret...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inIEEE transactions on circuits and systems for video technology Vol. 25; no. 5; pp. 717 - 729
Main Authors Tianrui Zong, Yong Xiang, Natgunanathan, Iynkaran, Song Guo, Wanlei Zhou, Beliakov, Gleb
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published IEEE 01.05.2015
Subjects
cropping
Decoding
Gaussian filtering
histogram
Histograms
Image watermarking
Indexes
random bending
Robustness
Shape
Signal processing
Watermarking
histogram
Gaussian filtering
random bending
image watermarking
Cropping
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Summary:Cropping and random bending are two common attacks in image watermarking. In this paper we propose a novel image-watermarking method to deal with these attacks, as well as other common attacks. In the embedding process, we first preprocess the host image by a Gaussian low-pass filter. Then, a secret key is used to randomly select a number of gray levels and the histogram of the filtered image with respect to these selected gray levels is constructed. After that, a histogram-shape-related index is introduced to choose the pixel groups with the highest number of pixels and a safe band is built between the chosen and nonchosen pixel groups. A watermark-embedding scheme is proposed to insert watermarks into the chosen pixel groups. The usage of the histogram-shape-related index and safe band results in good robustness. Moreover, a novel high-frequency component modification mechanism is also utilized in the embedding scheme to further improve robustness. At the decoding end, based on the available secret key, the watermarked pixel groups are identified and watermarks are extracted from them. The effectiveness of the proposed image-watermarking method is demonstrated by simulation examples.
ISSN:1051-8215
1558-2205
DOI:10.1109/TCSVT.2014.2363743