Title: Reversible data hiding in encrypted images based on histogram shifting and prediction error block coding

Authors: Zhilin Chen; Jiaohua Qin

Addresses: College of Computer Science and Information Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China ' College of Computer Science and Information Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China

Abstract: To reduce prediction errors and create more room for embedding data, the paper proposes a reversible data hiding (RDH) in encrypted images scheme based on histogram shifting and prediction error block coding. Firstly, the histogram of the prediction error image is shifted according to the signs of prediction errors. Next, the prediction error plane is partitioned into uniformly sized blocks, and these blocks are labelled as three types: an all-zero block, a block containing only one 1, and a block containing more than one 1. These three types of blocks are compressed using labelling, binary tree coding, and Huffman coding, respectively. To better compress the label map, an improved extended run-length coding is proposed. Finally, the image is secured by encryption and the secret data is hidden within it. The experimental results indicate a significant improvement in the embedding rate of the scheme compared to other schemes.

Keywords: RDH; reversible data hiding; prediction error; Huffman coding; encrypted images; extended run-length coding.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAACS.2025.144265

International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems, 2025 Vol.18 No.1, pp.45 - 66

Received: 02 Feb 2023
Accepted: 01 Apr 2023
Published online: 04 Feb 2025 *

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