Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reversible data-hiding exploiting huffman encoding in dual image using weighted matrix and generalized exploiting modification direction (GEMD)

  • Original article
  • Published:
The Visual Computer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In reversible data-hiding techniques, the quality of the steganographic image and its embedding capacity are the most crucial characteristics. The main objective of this study is to enhance the Biswapati et al. approach, which embeds secret data directly in interpolated pixels without taking context pixel properties into account. Additionally, they recorded an extremely large position value of the weighted matrix, which led to a significant amount of visual distortion. To deal with this issue, a novel reversible data-hiding method based on a multilayer center folding technique (MCFT) is developed. The suggested approach divides the interpolated cover image into 5 × 5 non-overlapping blocks and then sorts them in descending order of standard deviations. As a result of this sorting, edges and textures are more effectively preserved while also reducing the appearance of frequent interpolation defects. Unlike previous weighted matrix approaches, the position value of the weighted matrix is not embedded directly to generate the stego-image. MCFT is used before embedding to reduce the difference between an image pixel and a stego pixel so that image quality is not destroyed. The Huffman encoding technique is used to preprocess the acquired secret data to increase the embedding capacity as much as feasible. Additionally, to increase embedding rates, dual images are used for exploiting the characteristics of exploiting modification direction. The findings achieved significantly outperform state-of-the-art algorithms, which provide visual quality of more than 50.8 dB peak signal-to-noise ratio PSNR. When compared to modern techniques, the approach also offers the highest level of security and can retrieve the original image without losing any data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be made available on reasonable request.

References

  1. Mata-Mendoza, D., et al.: Secured telemedicine of medical imaging based on dual robust watermarking. Vis. Comput. 38(6), 2073–2090 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gao, G., et al.: Reversible data hiding with automatic contrast enhancement for medical images. Signal Process. 178, 107817 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Garcia-Nonoal, Z., et al.: Secure management of retinal imaging based on deep learning, zero-watermarking and reversible data hiding. Vis. Comput. 6, 66 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Peng, F., Li, X., Yang, B.: Adaptive reversible data hiding scheme based on integer transform. Signal Process. 92(1), 54–62 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wang, X., et al.: Efficient generalized integer transform for reversible watermarking. IEEE Signal Process. Lett. 17(6), 567–570 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Su, G.-D., Chang, C.-C.: Toward high-capacity crypto-domain reversible data hiding with huffman-based lossless image coding. Vis. Comput. 66, 1–16 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Celik, M.U., et al.: Lossless generalized-LSB data embedding. IEEE Trans. Image Process. 14(2), 253–266 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Jia, Y., et al.: Reversible data hiding based on reducing invalid shifting of pixels in histogram shifting. Signal Process. 163, 238–246 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chang, Y.-T., et al.: Image interpolating based data hiding in conjunction with pixel-shifting of histogram. J. Supercomput. 66(2), 1093–1110 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tian, J.: Reversible data embedding using a difference expansion. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. Video Technol. 13(8), 890–896 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Qiu, Y., Qian, Z., Yu, L.: Adaptive reversible data hiding by extending the generalized integer transformation. IEEE Signal Process. Lett. 23(1), 130–134 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mandal, P.C., Mukherjee, I., Chatterji, B.N.: High capacity reversible and secured data hiding in images using interpolation and difference expansion technique. Multimed. Tools Appl. 80(3), 3623–3644 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Thodi, D.M., Rodriguez, J.J.: Expansion embedding techniques for reversible watermarking. IEEE Trans. Image Process. 16(3), 721–730 (2007)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. Ou, B., et al.: Pairwise prediction-error expansion for efficient reversible data hiding. IEEE Trans. Image Process. 22(12), 5010–5021 (2013)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  15. Alattar, A.M.: Reversible watermark using the difference expansion of a generalized integer transform. IEEE Trans. Image Process. 13(8), 1147–1156 (2004)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  16. Gao, X., et al.: Reversible data hiding for high dynamic range images using two-dimensional prediction-error histogram of the second time prediction. Signal Process. 173, 107579 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jung, K.-H., Yoo, K.-Y.: Data hiding method using image interpolation. Comput. Stand. Interfaces 31(2), 465–470 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lee, C.-F., Huang, Y.-L.: An efficient image interpolation increasing payload in reversible data hiding. Expert Syst. Appl. 39(8), 6712–6719 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lu, T.-C.: Adaptive (k, F 1) interpolation-based hiding scheme. Multimed. Tools Appl. 76(2), 1827–1855 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Xiong, X., et al.: An adaptive high capacity reversible data hiding algorithm in interpolation domain. Signal Process. 194, 108458 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bai, X., et al.: A data hiding scheme based on the difference of image interpolation algorithms. J. Inf. Secur. Appl. 65, 103068 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Jaya Prakash, S., Mahalakshmi, K.: Improved reversible data hiding scheme employing dual image-based least significant bit matching for secure image communication using style transfer. Vis. Comput. 66, 1–22 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Chang, C.-C., Kieu, T.D., Chou, Y.-C.:. Reversible data hiding scheme using two steganographic images. In: TENCON 2007–2007 IEEE Region 10 Conference. IEEE (2007)

  24. Chang, C.-C., et al.: A high payload data embedding scheme using dual stego-images with reversibility. In: 2013 9th International Conference on Information, Communications & Signal Processing. IEEE (2013)

  25. Chang, C.-C., Chou, Y.-C., Kieu, T.D.: Information hiding in dual images with reversibility. In: 2009 Third International Conference on Multimedia and Ubiquitous Engineering. IEEE (2009)

  26. Qin, C., Chang, C.-C., Hsu, T.-J.: Reversible data hiding scheme based on exploiting modification direction with two steganographic images. Multimed. Tools Appl. 74(15), 5861–5872 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Lu, T.-C., Wu, J.-H., Huang, C.-C.: Dual-image-based reversible data hiding method using center folding strategy. Signal Process. 115, 195–213 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Yao, H., et al.: Improved dual-image reversible data hiding method using the selection strategy of shiftable pixels’ coordinates with minimum distortion. Signal Process. 135, 26–35 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang, X., Wang, S.: Efficient steganographic embedding by exploiting modification direction. IEEE Commun. Lett. 10(11), 781–783 (2006)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  30. Chang, C.-C., Tai, W.-L., Chen, K.-N.: Improvements of EMD embedding for large payloads. In: Third International Conference on Intelligent Information Hiding and Multimedia Signal Processing (IIH-MSP 2007). IEEE (2007)

  31. Jung, K.-H., Yoo, K.-Y.: Improved exploiting modification direction method by modulus operation. Int. J. Signal Process. Image Process. Pattern 2(1), 79–88 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Kuo, W.-C., Wang, C.-C.: Data hiding based on generalised exploiting modification direction method. Imaging Sci. J. 61(6), 484–490 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Lee, C.-F., Weng, C.-Y., Chen, K.-C.: An efficient reversible data hiding with reduplicated exploiting modification direction using image interpolation and edge detection. Multimed. Tools Appl. 76(7), 9993–10016 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Chen, X., Hong, C.: An efficient dual-image reversible data hiding scheme based on exploiting modification direction. J. Inf. Secur. Appl. 58, 102702 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Tseng, Y.-C., Chen, Y.-Y., Pan, H.-K.: A secure data hiding scheme for binary images. IEEE Trans. Commun. 50(8), 1227–1231 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Fan, L., Gao, T., Cao, Y.: Improving the embedding efficiency of weight matrix-based steganography for grayscale images. Comput. Electr. Eng. 39(3), 873–881 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Jana, B.: High payload reversible data hiding scheme using weighted matrix. Optik 127(6), 3347–3358 (2016)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  38. Lu, T.-C.: Interpolation-based hiding scheme using the modulus function and re-encoding strategy. Signal Process. 142, 244–259 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Chowdhuri, P., Jana, B.: Hiding data in dual color images reversibly via weighted matrix. J. Inf. Secur. Appl. 50, 102420 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Biswapati, J., Debasis, G., Kumar, M.S.: Weighted matrix based reversible data hiding scheme using image interpolation. In Computational Intelligence in Data Mining, Vol. 2, pp 239–248. Springer (2016)

  41. Lu, T.-C., Huang, S.-R., Huang, S.-W.: Reversible hiding method for interpolation images featuring a multilayer center folding strategy. Soft. Comput. 25, 161–180 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Gull, S., Parah, S.A., Muhammad, K.: Reversible data hiding exploiting Huffman encoding with dual images for IoMT based healthcare. Comput. Commun. 163, 134–149 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Weber, A.G.: The USC-SIPI image database: Version 5. http://sipi.usc.edu/database/ (2006)

  44. Li, J., Li, X., Yang, B.: Reversible data hiding scheme for color image based on prediction-error expansion and cross-channel correlation. Signal Process. 93(9), 2748–2758 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Jafar, I.F., et al.: An efficient reversible data hiding algorithm using two steganographic images. Signal Process. 128, 98–109 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Shaji, C., Sam, I.S.: Dual encoding approach with sequence folding for reversible data hiding in dual stego images. Multimed. Tools Appl. 80(9), 13595–13614 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Shastri, S., Thanikaiselvan, V.: Dual image reversible data hiding using trinary assignment and centre folding strategy with low distortion. J. Vis. Commun. Image Represent. 61, 130–140 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Luo, L., et al.: Reversible image watermarking using interpolation technique. IEEE Trans. Inf. Forensics Secur. 5(1), 187–193 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  49. Kuo, W.-C., et al.: High capacity data hiding scheme based on multi-bit encoding function. Optik 127(4), 1762–1769 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Mohammad, A.A., Al-Haj, A., Farfoura, M.: An improved capacity data hiding technique based on image interpolation. Multimed. Tools Appl. 78, 7181–7205 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Wahed, M.A., Nyeem, H.: Reversible data hiding with interpolation and adaptive embedding. Multimed. Tools Appl. 78, 10795–10819 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Chen, Y.-Q., et al.: An efficient general data hiding scheme based on image interpolation. J. Inf. Secur. Appl. 54, 102584 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Parah, S.A., et al.: Electronic Health Record hiding in Images for smart city applications: a computationally efficient and reversible information hiding technique for secure communication. Futur. Gener. Comput. Syst. 108, 935–949 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  54. Hassan, F.S., Gutub, A.: Efficient reversible data hiding multimedia technique based on smart image interpolation. Multimed. Tools Appl. 79(39), 30087–30109 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  55. Yang, H.W., Hwang, K.F.: Reversible data hiding for color BMP image based on block difference histogram. In: 2011 Fourth International Conference on Ubi-Media Computing (2011)

  56. Fridrich, J., Kodovsky, J.: Rich models for steganalysis of digital images. IEEE Trans. Inf. Forensics Secur. 7(3), 868–882 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was in part supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2022ZD0160604) and NSFC (Grant No. 62176194), and the Key Research and Development Program of Hubei Province (Grant No. 2023BAB083), the Project of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City (Grant No. SCKJ-JYRC-2022-76, SKJC-2022-PTDX-031), and the Project of Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park of Wuhan University of Technology (Grant No. 2021KF0031).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Nada Hussien Abd El Salam

  2. Computer Science Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El-Minia, 61111, Egypt

    Nada Hussien Abd El Salam

  3. Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park, Wuhan University of Technology, Hainan, 572000, China

    Shengwu Xiong

  4. Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai, 200232, China

    Shengwu Xiong

  5. School of Information Science and Technology, Qiongtai Normal University, Hainan, 571127, China

    Shengwu Xiong

  6. Department of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, China

    Xuan Liu

Authors
  1. Nada Hussien Abd El Salam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shengwu Xiong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xuan Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shengwu Xiong.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

El Salam, N.H.A., Xiong, S. & Liu, X. Reversible data-hiding exploiting huffman encoding in dual image using weighted matrix and generalized exploiting modification direction (GEMD). Vis Comput 40, 3663–3691 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00371-023-03058-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00371-023-03058-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation