A robust algorithm for information hiding in digital pictures

A problem inherent in information hiding techniques for digital images is that of alignment during data extraction. This alignment problem can be solved using a search approach where a combination of coarse orientation detection, random search and gradient descent methods are employed. When used in conjunction with the Patch Track algorithm, it is possible to create an information hiding and retrieval system that is robust towards rotation, cropping and noise; successful data extraction can occur with a high degree of certainty from scanned images, rotated images and partial images. An image can be encoded with a desired piece of information (a reference number, URL etc.) with Patch Track by way of pseudo-random, imperceivable alterations of intensity throughout the image. This information can be then be extracted by the intended parties with a decoder. Various applications exist for this watermarking system including photo annotation, verification of image ownership on the Internet and data warehousing.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1999

Author dc:creator

• Hwang, Raymond W. (Raymond Weihau), 1975-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Walter Bender.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/9798

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/9798