Improved Lossless Embedding and Extraction - A Data Hiding Mechanism

This paper proposes a reversible data hiding mechanism based on multiresolution analysis with difference expansion algorithm. Based on the multiresolution analysis of an image, gradient information of crude original image is exploited to select proper embedding areas. Adaptively embedding method based on Difference Expansion Algorithm is proposed to embed data into the host image without causing overflow/underflow and distortion problems. The original host image can be obtained upon the extraction of the embedded information. Driving application of reversible date hiding is authentic and can be used in some special applications, such as law enforcement, banks, medical and military fields, where original cover media is required for legal reason. Embedding data into cover media while keeping the media reversible opens a new door for linking some data with original media. With this proposed method we ensure that the Host information improves the compression efficiency, and thus the lossless data embedding capability is achieved. Experimental results signify that the proposed reversible data hiding method can embed a large payload with low visual distortion in the host image.