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Real time data hiding by exploiting the IPCM macroblocks in H.264/AVC streams

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Abstract

A new method for data hiding in H.264/AVC streams is presented. The proposed method exploits the IPCM encoded macroblocks during the intra prediction stage in order to hide the desired data. It is a blind data hiding scheme, i.e. the message can be extracted directly from the encoded stream without the need of the original host video. Moreover, the method exhibits the useful property of reusing the compressed stream for hiding different data numerous times without considerably affecting either the bit-rate or the perceptual quality. This property allows data hiding directly in the compressed stream in real time. The method perfectly suits to covert communication and content authentication applications.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the European Union, European Social Fund (75%), the Greek State, Ministry of Development, General Secretariat of Research and Technology (25%) and the Private Sector in the frames of the European Competitiveness Program (Third Community Support Framework, Measure 8.3, Program PENED, contract no. 03EΔ832).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digital Systems and Media Computing Laboratory, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece

    Spyridon K. Kapotas & Athanassios N. Skodras

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  1. Spyridon K. Kapotas
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  2. Athanassios N. Skodras
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Correspondence to Spyridon K. Kapotas.

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Kapotas, S.K., Skodras, A.N. Real time data hiding by exploiting the IPCM macroblocks in H.264/AVC streams. J Real-Time Image Proc 4, 33–41 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11554-008-0100-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11554-008-0100-2

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