Article: Investigation of pixel neighbourhood for prediction error-based reversible data hiding using neural networks Journal: International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing (IJAHUC) 2025 Vol.48 No.4 pp.185 - 211 Abstract: Success of a prediction error-based reversible data hiding (RDH) technique depends on a good pixel value predictor. A pixel value predictor predicts a pixel value with the help of its neighbouring pixel values. Considered neighbourhood for pixel value prediction influences the performance of such predictor. Varieties of pixel neighbourhoods have been considered in literature. This paper presents a unique work of its kind to explore the effect of various pixel neighbourhoods. In order to perform this comparative analysis, a neural network is used here to predict a pixel value from a neighbourhood. The best neighbourhood for the pixel value prediction task is determined from the reported experimental observations. The selected neighbourhood is used for pixel value prediction and subsequent RDH scheme. It is observed from the experimental results that the proposed neural network-based adaptive RDH scheme with the selected neighbourhood outperforms majority of the state-of-the-art RDH techniques. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Investigation of pixel neighbourhood for prediction error-based reversible data hiding using neural networks

Authors: Sabhapathy Myakal; Rajarshi Pal; Nekuri Naveen

Addresses: School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India ' Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology, Castle Hills, Road No. 1, Masab Tank, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500057, India ' School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India

Abstract: Success of a prediction error-based reversible data hiding (RDH) technique depends on a good pixel value predictor. A pixel value predictor predicts a pixel value with the help of its neighbouring pixel values. Considered neighbourhood for pixel value prediction influences the performance of such predictor. Varieties of pixel neighbourhoods have been considered in literature. This paper presents a unique work of its kind to explore the effect of various pixel neighbourhoods. In order to perform this comparative analysis, a neural network is used here to predict a pixel value from a neighbourhood. The best neighbourhood for the pixel value prediction task is determined from the reported experimental observations. The selected neighbourhood is used for pixel value prediction and subsequent RDH scheme. It is observed from the experimental results that the proposed neural network-based adaptive RDH scheme with the selected neighbourhood outperforms majority of the state-of-the-art RDH techniques.

Keywords: reversible data hiding; RDH; pixel neighbourhood; pixel value prediction; prediction error; multi-layer perceptron; MLP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAHUC.2025.145198

International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, 2025 Vol.48 No.4, pp.185 - 211

Received: 15 Mar 2024
Accepted: 30 Aug 2024
Published online: 25 Mar 2025 *

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Title: Investigation of pixel neighbourhood for prediction error-based reversible data hiding using neural networks

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