Title: False-positive free Hilbert and multi-resolution-based image watermarking technique using firefly optimisation algorithm

Authors: L. Agilandeeswari; K. Ganesan

Addresses: School of Information Technology and Engineering (SITE), VIT University, Vellore – 632 014, India ' TIFAC-CORE in Automotive Infotronics, VIT University, Vellore – 632 014, India

Abstract: To increase the robustness and imperceptibility of the image watermarking scheme, a novel optimisation technique is proposed. The presented watermarking scheme uses Hilbert and multi-resolution transform (DWT) with principal component analysis (PCA)-based subband selection method for determining the suitable location for embedding. The modified firefly optimisation algorithm is used to decide the optimal scaling values among the multiple scaling factors for embedding the watermark within the cover image in hybrid transform space. Since, the embedding process is done in Hilbert transform domain, the imperceptibility of the watermark is improved and it is free from false positive detection. The experimental results shows that the presented approach is more robust against different kinds of image processing attacks such as, Gaussian filter, Poisson noise, salt and pepper noise, median filter, contrast adjustment, histogram equalisation, row and column deletion, JPEG compression and geometrical attacks such as, rotation and cropping.

Keywords: multi-resolution transform; Hilbert transform; firefly algorithm; principal component analysis; PCA; robustness; watermark imperceptibility; false positives detection; image watermarking; optimisation; image processing attacks; image security; geometrical attacks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIPSI.2016.082095

International Journal of Information Privacy, Security and Integrity, 2016 Vol.2 No.4, pp.257 - 280

Accepted: 05 Sep 2015
Published online: 07 Feb 2017 *

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