Steganographic capacity of images, based on image equivalence classes

ABSTRACT

The problem of hiding information imperceptibly can be formulated as the problem of determining if a given image is a member of a sufficiently large equivalence class of images which to the Human Visual System appears to be the same image. This makes it possible to replace the given image with a modified image similar in appearance but carrying imperceptibly coded information. This paper presents a framework and an experimental algorithm to estimate upper bounds for the size of an equivalence class.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  E. Data
  E.4 CODING AND INFORMATION THEORY

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.4 IMAGE PROCESSING AND COMPUTER VISION
      I.4.6 Segmentation

General Terms:
Experimentation, Measurement, Security, Theory

Keywords:
capacity, digital watermarking, image equivalence classes, information hiding, perceptual tolerance