KR101354609B1 - Image based data hiding device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for image based data hiding are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for concealing data on an image through adjustment of pixel values and for restoring the data from the hidden image where the data is concealed, thereby preventing sensitive information from being easily exposed to third parties. It is about techniques that can be used.

Description

Image-based data hiding device and method {IMAGE BASED DATA HIDING DEVICE AND METHOD}

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a technique capable of preventing exposure of sensitive information by hiding data on an image.

Recently, as various types of information are generated and circulated, damages such as exposure of important information to third parties due to hacking or transmission of information through wrong paths have occurred.

In particular, if no important defense mechanism is applied to important information such as military or personal information in the process of transmitting the information, if such important information is accidentally delivered to the third party, the third party can easily access the important information. This can cause great damage.

Recently, in order to prevent exposure of such important information, a technique of inserting and transferring important information in a watermark form on an image has been introduced.

Watermark is a technology that inserts a mark that only the owner owns into the original data such as text, image, video, audio and so on. After inserting in the form, a data concealment technology is introduced so that only a limited user can extract important information embedded in the image from the image.

Therefore, according to this technical flow, a study on a more advanced form of data concealment technique is required to prevent important information from being easily exposed to third parties.

Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for concealing data on an image through adjustment of pixel values and for restoring the data from the hidden image where the data is concealed, thereby preventing sensitive information from being easily exposed to third parties. To help.

An image-based data concealment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a block generator that generates at least one image block by dividing an image, and is selected from among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block. A pixel selection unit for selecting at least one pixel positioned on a grid point as a pixel to be used for data concealment, and generating a group for generating a first pixel group and a second pixel group by dividing the at least one pixel into two pixel groups A group selector which selects a pixel group to be used for the data hiding from among the first pixel group and the second pixel group based on a bit value of data to be concealed, and pixel values of pixels included in the selected pixel group. Change according to a predetermined pixel value change pattern to generate a hidden image in which the data is hidden. Data concealment includes parts.

In addition, the image-based data concealment method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of segmenting an image to generate at least one image block, on a selected grid point among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block Selecting at least one pixel positioned at to be a pixel to be used for data concealment, dividing the at least one pixel into two pixel groups to generate a first pixel group and a second pixel group, and bits of data to be concealed Selecting a pixel group to be used for the data concealment among the first pixel group and the second pixel group based on a value, and changing pixel values of pixels included in the selected pixel group according to a predetermined pixel value change pattern Thereby generating a hidden image in which the data is hidden.

Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for concealing data on an image through adjustment of pixel values and for restoring the data from the hidden image where the data is concealed, thereby preventing sensitive information from being easily exposed to third parties. Can be.

1 is a diagram showing the structure of an image-based data hiding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing a process of hiding data on an image by an image-based data hiding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a process of restoring the data from the hidden image in which the data is concealed by the image-based data hiding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating an image-based data concealment method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components may be present in between. Should be. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the contextual meaning of the related art and are to be interpreted as either ideal or overly formal in the sense of the present application Do not.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram showing the structure of an image-based data hiding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a block generator 111, a pixel selector 112, a group generator 113, and a group selector. The unit 114 and the data concealment unit 115 are included.

Hereinafter, an operation of the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

First, when an image for hiding data is input, the block generation unit 111 generates at least one image block by dividing the image, as shown at 210.

In relation to FIG. 210, an example in which the block generator 111 divides the image into four image blocks to generate four image blocks is illustrated.

Here, one bit of data may be concealed in each image block. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, since the image is divided into four image blocks by the block generator 111, four bits of data are concealed on the image. Can be.

The pixel selector 112 selects at least one pixel located on a predetermined grid point among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block as a pixel to be used for data concealment.

In this case, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the selected grating point has a grating pattern and is disposed in the up, down, left, and right directions with respect to each of the at least one pixel among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block. There may be no adjacent pixels, and the at least one pixel may be designated to be spaced apart from each other.

In this regard, reference numeral 220 and 230 denote an enlarged view of the first image block 211 of the four image blocks shown at 210. First, the pixel selection unit 112 is designated by reference numeral 220. An example in which the at least one pixel is selected for one image block 211 is shown.

Here, each square shown by reference numeral 220 represents one pixel, and the shaded pixels represent the at least one pixel selected by the pixel selector 112.

As shown by reference numeral 220, the pixel selector 112 selects at least one pixel to be used for data hiding in a checkered pattern having a grid pattern among a plurality of pixels included in the first image block 211. The at least one pixel may be selected such that no pixels adjacent to each other in the up, down, left, and right directions exist for each of the at least one pixel, and the at least one pixel is spaced apart from each other.

As such, when the selection of the at least one pixel is completed, the group generator 113 divides the at least one pixel into two pixel groups to generate a first pixel group and a second pixel group.

In relation to this, as shown at 230, the group generating unit 113 stores the at least one pixel to be used for concealing the data shaded with the pixels positioned on the top of the first image block 211. The pixels positioned at the upper end of the first image block 211 may be divided into the first pixel group 231, and the pixels positioned at the lower end of the first image block 211 may be generated as the second pixel group 232.

The division method of the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel group 232 of the group generator 113 may be arbitrarily determined by a user.

In this way, when the generation of the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel group 232 is completed, the group selector 114 based on the bit value of the data to be concealed, the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel. A group of pixels to be used for data hiding is selected from the group 232.

As described above, one bit of data may be hidden in one image block. If the bit value of one bit of data to be hidden on the first image block 211 is '0', the group selector In operation 114, the first pixel group 231 may be selected as a pixel group for hiding data having a bit value of '0' from among the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel group 232.

On the other hand, when the bit value of the one-bit data to be hidden on the first image block 211 is '1', the group selector 114 may include the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel group 232. The second pixel group 232 may be selected as a pixel group for hiding data having a bit value of '1'.

The pixel group selection method of the group selector 114 may be arbitrarily set by the user. That is, when the data bit value to be hidden on the first image block 211 is '0', the group selector 114 may select '0' among the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel group 232. May be set to select the second pixel group 233 as a pixel group for concealing data having a bit value, and if the bit value of the data to be concealed on the first image block 211 is '1', the group The selector 114 may be set to select the first pixel group 231 as a pixel group for hiding data having a bit value of '1' from among the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel group 232. Can be.

In the present exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that the bit value of the data to be hidden on the first image block 211 is '0', and accordingly, the group selector 114 uses the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel group ( It is assumed that the first pixel group 231 is selected as the pixel group for concealing data having a bit value of '0' from 232.

The data hiding unit 115 changes the pixel values of the pixels included in the pixel group selected by the group selector 114 according to a predetermined pixel value change pattern to generate a hidden image in which the data is hidden.

Previously, it is assumed that the bit value of the data to be hidden on the first image block 211 is '0', and the bit value that the first pixel group 231 is '0' for the first image block 211. Since it is assumed that the data having the data is selected as the pixel group to be hidden, the data concealment unit 115 selects pixel values of pixels included in the first pixel group 231 for the first image block 211. It can be changed according to the change pattern.

For example, suppose that the predetermined pixel value change pattern is a pattern for converting the last three bit values from the data bit string of a specific pixel value to an opposite value. For example, when the data bit string of a specific pixel value is' 11110000 ', when the pixel value is changed by applying the predetermined pixel value change pattern to the specific pixel value, the data bit string of the specific pixel value is' Suppose it is changed to 11110111 '.

In this case, the data concealment unit 115 may change the last three bit values in the data bit string for the pixel value to the opposite bit values for the pixels included in the first pixel group 231.

As such, the pixel value of the pixels included in the first pixel group 231 is changed to a pixel value different from the original pixel value, thereby concealing the bit value of the data '0' on the first image block 211. When the data restoration is performed later, if it is confirmed that the pixel values of the pixels included in the first pixel group 231 are changed pixel values, a value of '0' on the first image block 211 may be determined. After determining that the bit value of the data is hidden, the bit value of the data '0' may be restored from the first image block 211.

As described above, the process of concealing the bit value of the data '0' for the first image block 211 with reference to 220 and 230 has been described. However, the pixel selector 112 and the group generator 113 are described. The data concealment unit 115 may be configured by using reference numerals 220 and 230 for each of the remaining three image blocks except for the first image block 211 among the four image blocks shown at 210. By concealing a one-bit data bit value in the same manner, it is possible to create a hidden image with a total of four bits of data hidden on the image.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the image used for data concealment may be an encrypted image generated by applying a predetermined encryption algorithm to the original image, the image-based data concealment device 110 is the encrypted image By concealing the data in the manner described above for, security can be further enhanced.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 may further include an authentication information generator 124.

The authentication information generation unit 124 may include block generation information associated with generation of at least one image block performed by the block generation unit 111, selection information associated with selection of at least one pixel performed by the pixel selection unit 112, The authentication information including segmentation information associated with division of the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel group 232 performed by the group generator 113 and information about the selected pixel value change pattern may be generated. have.

For example, the authentication information generator 124 may generate the four image blocks when the block generator 111 generates four image blocks by dividing the image, as shown at 210. Configure the associated block generation information, and the pixel selector 112 selects at least one pixel located on a selected grid point among a plurality of pixels included in four image blocks, as shown at 220. When the selection is made, selection information related to the manner in which the at least one pixel is selected is configured, and the group generator 113 divides the at least one pixel into two pixel groups to form the first pixel group 231 and the second pixel. When generating the pixel group 232, the block generation information, the selection information, the partitioning information, and the data concealment unit 115 may be used after constructing the partitioning information associated with the partitioning scheme of the pixel group. By generating the identification information includes information for changing the selected pixel value pattern, and when the data, which is concealed on the image restored from the later image is the authentication information to be used as the key for a predetermined authentication.

In the above, the process of concealing predetermined data on the image by the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described. Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3, the process of restoring the data from the hidden image in which the data is hidden based on the data restoration command by the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 will be described.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 generates a hidden image block generator 117, a reconstructed pixel selector 118, a reconstructed pixel group generator 119, and a first verification group generation. The unit 120 may further include a second verification group generation unit 121, a verification group selection unit 122, and a bit value selection unit 123.

First, when a restore command for the data is input to a hidden image in which data is hidden according to the exemplary embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, the hidden image block generation unit 117 may generate the authentication information used as a predetermined authentication key ( At least one hidden image block is generated by dividing the hidden image based on the block generation information included in 340.

Since the block generation information is information set to generate four image blocks by dividing an image as shown by reference numeral 210 of FIG. 2, the hidden image block generation unit 117 is shown by reference numeral 310. Four hidden image blocks may be generated by dividing the hidden image into four hidden image blocks.

The reconstructed pixel selector 118 may select one of a plurality of pixels included in the at least one hidden image block generated by the hidden image block generator 117 based on the selection information included in the authentication information 340. At least one reconstructed pixel positioned on the predetermined grid point may be selected.

In this regard, reference numeral 320 and 330 denote an enlarged view of the first hidden image block 311 of the four hidden image blocks shown at 310. First, reference numeral 320 denotes a reconstructed pixel selector 118. Shows an example in which the at least one reconstructed pixel is selected for the first hidden image block 311.

In this case, each rectangle illustrated by reference numeral 320 represents one pixel, and the selection information is information configured to select a shaded pixel from among the plurality of pixels illustrated by reference numeral 220 of FIG. 2. The selector 118 is shaded among the plurality of pixels included in the first hidden image block 311 as shown at 320 in the same manner as shown at 220 in FIG. 2. May be selected as the at least one reconstruction pixel.

That is, as shown by reference numeral 320, the reconstructed pixel selection unit 118 may include the at least one reconstructed pixel in the form of a checkered pattern having a grid pattern among a plurality of pixels included in the first hidden image block 311. In some embodiments, at least one of the at least one reconstructed pixel may be selected such that no pixels adjacent to each of the at least one reconstructed pixel exist in the up, down, left, and right directions, and the at least one reconstructed pixel is spaced apart from each other.

As such, when selection of the at least one reconstructed pixel is completed, the reconstructed pixel group generation unit 119 divides the at least one reconstructed pixel into two pixel groups based on the split information included in the authentication information 340. The first recovery pixel group and the second recovery pixel group are generated by dividing by.

In relation to this, the segmentation information may include pixels located at the top of the first image block 211 among at least one pixel to be used for data concealment that is shaded, as shown by reference numeral 230 of FIG. 2. Since the information is set to divide the pixels positioned at the bottom of the first image block 211 into the second pixel group 232 as the group 231, the reconstructed pixel group generation unit 119 is as shown by reference numeral 330. Likewise, the pixels located at the upper end of the first hidden image block 311 among the at least one reconstructed pixel according to the split information are referred to as a first reconstructed pixel group 331 and at the lower end of the first hidden image block 311. Pixels positioned may be divided into a second reconstructed pixel group 332.

In this manner, when the division into the first reconstructed pixel group 331 and the second reconstructed pixel group 332 is completed, the first verification group generator 120 may generate a first reconstructed pixel group 331 among the at least one reconstructed pixel. ) Generates a first verification group in which the pixel values of the pixels included in the subfield are changed according to the pixel value restoration pattern corresponding to the selected pixel value changing pattern included in the authentication information 340.

In addition, the second verification group generation unit 121 may determine the pixel values of the pixels included in the second reconstructed pixel group 332 among the at least one reconstructed pixel in the authentication information 340. The second verification group is changed according to the pixel value reconstruction pattern corresponding to the change pattern.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, since it is assumed that the selected pixel value changing pattern is a pattern for converting the last three bit values from a data bit string of a specific pixel value to an opposite value, the selected pixel value restoring pattern is It may be assumed that the last three bit values in the data bit string of the specific pixel value are reconverted to the opposite value so as to correspond to the selected pixel value changing pattern. For example, when the data bit string of a specific pixel value is '11110000', when the pixel value is changed by applying the pixel value recovery pattern to the specific pixel value, the data bit string of the specific pixel value is '11110111'. Can be changed to

In this way, the pixel values of the pixels included in the first reconstructed pixel group 331 and the second reconstructed pixel group 332 are changed according to the pixel value reconstruction pattern, thereby performing the first verification group and the second verification. When generation of the population is completed, the verification group selecting unit 122 includes a spatial correlation with neighboring pixels with respect to the pixels included in the first verification group and the second verification group. The spatial correlation between the first verification group and the second verification group is selected by comparing the spatial correlation with adjacent pixels with respect to the pixels.

Here, the spatial correlation indicates a correlation between a pixel value of a specific pixel and a pixel value of pixels located in the periphery of the specific pixel. The difference between the pixel value of the specific pixel and the pixel value of the surrounding pixels The spatial correlation degree of the specific pixel is low and the spatial correlation degree is high when the difference between the pixel value of the specific pixel and the pixel value of the surrounding pixels is small.

This high spatial correlation means that the particular pixel and the pixels located around the pixel have similar colors, brightness, and the like. When measuring the degree of distortion of the particular pixel, distortion of the particular pixel is almost zero. It means that it did not occur.

On the contrary, the low spatial correlation means that the specific pixel and the pixels located around the pixel have different colors, brightness, and the like. Therefore, when the distortion degree of the specific pixel is measured, It can be said that a lot of distortion has occurred.

Accordingly, pixels (not shaded at 320 and 330) adjacent to pixels included in the first verification group and the second verification group (pixels shaded at reference numerals 320 and 330). Since the pixel value change has not occurred in the process of concealing or restoring data on the image, the spatial correlation between the first verification group and the neighboring pixels of the second verification group has not been changed. Since the pixels included in the high verification group have similar colors and brightness to neighboring pixels having the original pixel values, the distortions are less generated than the pixels included in the other verification groups.

For this reason, the verification group selecting unit 122 selects a verification group having a high spatial correlation among the first verification group and the second verification group, and the bit value selection unit 123 selects a result of the verification group. A bit value for the data hidden on the first reconstructed image block 311 may be extracted based on the.

In relation to the above, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the pixel values of the pixels included in the first pixel group 231 are hidden to conceal a bit value of data '0' on the first image block 211. It is assumed that the change is made according to the selected pixel value change pattern.

In this case, the first verification group generation unit 120 may determine pixel values of the pixels of the first reconstructed pixel group 331 including the pixels changed according to the selected pixel value change pattern according to the pixel value reconstruction pattern. Since the modified first verification group is generated, the pixels included in the first verification group may be restored to original pixel values.

On the other hand, the second verification group generation unit 121 changes the pixel values of the pixels included in the second reconstructed pixel group 332 in which the change in the pixel value does not occur according to the pixel value reconstruction pattern. Since the verification population is generated, the pixels included in the second verification population will have distorted pixel values rather than the original pixel values.

Therefore, the verification group selecting unit 122 performs spatial correlation with neighboring pixels with respect to the pixels included in the first verification group and with the neighboring pixels with respect to the pixels included in the second verification group. Comparing the correlations, since the pixels included in the first verification group are restored to the original pixel values, and the pixels included in the second verification group have distortion, the spatial correlation of the first verification group is high. Will come out.

Accordingly, the verification group selector 122 selects the first verification group, and the bit value selector 123 selects the first image from the first image block 211 of the original image in that the first verification group is selected. It can be seen that the pixel values of the pixels included in the pixel group 231 have been changed, so that a bit value of hidden data called '0' can be finally selected for the first hidden image block 311. The bit value '0' of the data hidden in the one hidden image block 311 may be restored.

In this case, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the verification group selecting unit 122 includes a pixel included in the first verification group to compare the spatial correlation between the first verification group and the second verification group. Calculating a predetermined first Fluctuation Function value for checking the similarity between the pixel value of the pixel and the pixel value of the adjacent pixels, and the similarity between the pixel value of the pixels included in the second verification group and the pixel value of the adjacent pixel. The predetermined second variation function value for confirmation may be calculated.

Here, the calculation of the first variation function value and the second variation function value may be performed based on Equation 1 below.

In this case, f is the first disparity function value or the second disparity function value, and b _{i , j} are the first verification group or the second verification among a plurality of pixels included in the first hidden image block 311. The pixel value located on the (i, j) coordinates for the pixels included in the population, and c _{i , j-1} , c _{i , j + 1} , c _{i -1, j} , c _{i +1, j} are The pixel value of the pixels adjacent to the pixels included in the first verification group or the second verification group. S is the number of pixels included in the first verification group or the second verification group.

When the verification group selection unit 122 completes the calculation of the first and second variation function values based on Equation 1, the verification group selection unit 122 compares the first and second variation function values. A verification group having a disparity function value having a smaller value among the first and second disparity function values may be selected as a verification group having a high spatial inter-degree.

That is, the difference between the pixel value of the pixels included in the first verification group or the second verification group and the pixel value of the adjacent pixels is determined by the first shift function value and the second shift function value based on Equation (1). Since it is a function value calculated by, the verification group selection unit 122 may determine that the spatial correlation is high when the variation function value is small and that the spatial correlation is low when the variation function value is large.

As described above, the process of restoring the bit value of the data '0' for the first reconstructed image block 311 has been described with reference to 320 and 330. However, the reconstructed pixel selection unit 118 and the reconstructed pixel group are generated. The unit 119, the first verification group generation unit 120, the second verification group generation unit 121, the verification group selection unit 123, and the bit value selection unit 123 are four reconstructions shown in FIG. For each of the remaining three reconstructed image blocks except for the first reconstructed image block 311 among the image blocks, the bit values of the one-bit hidden data are restored in the same manner as described using reference numerals 320 and 330. A total of 4 bits of hidden data can be recovered from the hidden image.

The process of restoring data from the hidden image by the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 has been described above with reference to FIG. 3. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 includes both a configuration for concealing data on the image and a component for restoring data from the hidden image, as described above. It can be configured to perform both restorations.

In relation to this, when the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 receives a specific image and data together with a data concealment request from a predetermined client terminal, the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 generates the hidden image by concealing the data in the image. If a data restoration request for the hidden image is received from the client terminal or another client terminal later, the data is restored from the hidden image and the restored data is transmitted to the client terminal. It can be configured to give.

However, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 may transmit the hidden image to a predetermined information receiving terminal after hiding the data on a predetermined image. It may be configured to receive a hidden image and recover the data from the hidden image.

In relation to this, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 may further include an information transmitter 116.

When the generation of the hidden image is completed, the information transmitter 116 transmits the hidden image and the authentication information generated in the process of generating the hidden image to an information receiving terminal (not shown).

In this case, the information receiving terminal receives the data from the hidden image in the same process as the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 described above using FIG. 3 to restore data from the hidden image based on the authentication information. Can be restored

4 is a flowchart illustrating an image-based data concealment method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In operation S410, the image is divided to generate at least one image block.

In operation S420, at least one pixel positioned on a selected grid point among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block is selected as a pixel to be used for data concealment.

In this case, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the selected grating point has a grating pattern and is disposed in the up, down, left, and right directions with respect to each of the at least one pixel among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block. There may be no adjacent pixels, and the at least one pixel may be designated to be spaced apart from each other.

In operation S430, the at least one pixel is divided into two pixel groups to generate a first pixel group and a second pixel group.

In operation S440, a pixel group to be used for data hiding is selected from the first pixel group and the second pixel group based on a bit value of data to be concealed.

In operation S450, pixel values of the pixels included in the selected pixel group are changed according to a predetermined pixel value change pattern to generate a hidden image in which the data is hidden.

In this case, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the image-based data hiding method may include block generation information associated with the generation of the at least one image block, selection information associated with the selection of the at least one pixel, and the first pixel group. And generating authentication information including division information associated with division of the second pixel group and information about the selected pixel value change pattern.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image-based data hiding method is based on the block generation information included in the authentication information when a restore command for the data hidden in the hidden image is input. Generating at least one hidden image block by dividing the hidden image, wherein the selected grid point is selected from among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one hidden image block based on the selection information included in the authentication information; Selecting at least one reconstructed pixel positioned on the display; dividing the at least one reconstructed pixel into two pixel groups based on the split information included in the authentication information; Generating a pixel group, the first reconstruction of the at least one reconstructed pixel Generating a first verification group in which the pixel values of the pixels included in the pixel group are changed according to the pixel value restoration pattern corresponding to the selected pixel value change pattern included in the authentication information, wherein the at least one restoration Generating a second verification group in which the pixel values of the pixels included in the second reconstructed pixel group among the pixels are changed according to the pixel value reconstruction pattern, and adjacent pixels to the pixels included in the first verification group A correlation between the first verification group and the second verification group by comparing the spatial correlation with the neighboring pixels with respect to the pixels included in the second verification group. Selecting the data and hiding the data through the at least one reconstructed pixel based on a selection result for the verification population. The step of selecting the bit-precision value can further include about.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the image-based data concealment method may further include transmitting the hidden image and the authentication information to an information receiving terminal.

In this case, the information receiving terminal may restore the data from the hidden image based on the authentication information.

In the above, an image-based data concealment method according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIG. 4. Here, the image-based data hiding method according to an embodiment of the present invention may correspond to the configuration of the operation of the image-based data hiding apparatus 110 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The description will be omitted.

Image-based data concealment method according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer means may be recorded on a computer readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and constructed for the present invention or may be available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magnetic media such as floppy disks; Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

As described above, the present invention has been described by specific embodiments such as specific components and the like. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations are possible from these descriptions.

Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described, and all of the equivalents or equivalents of the claims, as well as the following claims, belong to the scope of the present invention .

110: image-based data hiding device
111: block generation unit 112: pixel selection unit
113: group generator 114: group selector
115: data hiding section 116: information transmitting section
117: hidden image block generation unit 118: reconstructed pixel selection unit
119: reconstructed pixel group generation unit 120: first verification group generation unit
121: second verification group generation unit 122: verification group selection unit
123: bit value selection unit 124: authentication information generation unit

Claims (11)

A block generator which generates at least one image block by dividing an image;
A pixel selector for selecting at least one pixel located on a predetermined grid point among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block as a pixel to be used for data concealment;
A group generator for dividing the at least one pixel into two pixel groups to generate a first pixel group and a second pixel group;
A group selector which selects a pixel group to be used for the data hiding from among the first pixel group and the second pixel group based on a bit value of data to be concealed;
A data concealment unit which generates a hidden image in which the data is hidden in the image by changing pixel values of pixels included in the selected pixel group according to a predetermined pixel value change pattern;
Changing block generation information associated with the generation of the at least one image block, selection information associated with the selection of the at least one pixel, segmentation information associated with the division of the first pixel group and the second pixel group, and changing the predetermined pixel value. An authentication information generator for generating authentication information including information about the pattern;
When a restore command for the data hidden in the hidden image is input, generating a hidden image block by dividing the hidden image based on the block generation information included in the authentication information to generate at least one hidden image block. part;
A reconstructed pixel selector which selects at least one reconstructed pixel positioned on the selected grid point among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one hidden image block based on the selection information included in the authentication information;
A reconstructed pixel group generation unit configured to generate a first reconstructed pixel group and a second reconstructed pixel group by dividing the at least one reconstructed pixel into two pixel groups based on the split information included in the authentication information;
A first verification in which pixel values of pixels included in the first reconstructed pixel group among the at least one reconstructed pixel are changed according to a pixel value reconstruction pattern corresponding to the predetermined pixel value change pattern included in the authentication information; A first verification group generation unit generating a group;
A second verification group generation unit generating a second verification group in which pixel values of pixels included in the second recovery pixel group among the at least one reconstruction pixel are changed according to the pixel value recovery pattern;
Comparing the spatial correlation between the neighboring pixels for the pixels included in the first verification group and the spatial correlation between the neighboring pixels for the pixels included in the second verification group A verification group selecting unit selecting a verification group having a high spatial correlation among the first verification group and the second verification group; And
A bit value selection unit for selecting a bit value for the data concealed through the at least one reconstructed pixel based on a selection result for the verification population
Image-based data concealment device comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The selected grid point is
Having a lattice pattern, there is no pixel adjacent to each of the at least one pixel among the plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block, and the at least one pixel is spaced apart from each other. Image-based data hiding device that is a specified point. delete delete The method of claim 1,
Information transmitting unit for transmitting the hidden image and the authentication information to the information receiving terminal
Further comprising:
The information receiving terminal
And an image-based data hiding apparatus for restoring the data from the hidden image based on the authentication information. Dividing the image to generate at least one image block;
Selecting at least one pixel located on a predetermined grid point among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block as a pixel to be used for data concealment;
Dividing the at least one pixel into two pixel groups to generate a first pixel group and a second pixel group;
Selecting a pixel group to be used for concealing the data among the first pixel group and the second pixel group based on a bit value of data to be concealed;
Generating a hidden image in which the data is hidden in the image by changing pixel values of pixels included in the selected pixel group according to a predetermined pixel value change pattern;
Changing block generation information associated with the generation of the at least one image block, selection information associated with the selection of the at least one pixel, segmentation information associated with the division of the first pixel group and the second pixel group, and changing the predetermined pixel value. Generating authentication information including information about the pattern;
Generating at least one hidden image block by dividing the hidden image based on the block generation information included in the authentication information when a restoration command for the data hidden in the hidden image is input;
Selecting at least one reconstructed pixel located on the selected grid point among a plurality of pixels included in the at least one hidden image block based on the selection information included in the authentication information;
Generating a first reconstructed pixel group and a second reconstructed pixel group by dividing the at least one reconstructed pixel into two pixel groups based on the split information included in the authentication information;
A first verification in which pixel values of pixels included in the first reconstructed pixel group among the at least one reconstructed pixel are changed according to a pixel value reconstruction pattern corresponding to the predetermined pixel value change pattern included in the authentication information; Creating a population;
Generating a second verification group in which pixel values of pixels included in the second reconstructed pixel group among the at least one reconstructed pixel are changed according to the pixel value reconstruction pattern;
Comparing the spatial correlation between the neighboring pixels for the pixels included in the first verification group and the spatial correlation between the neighboring pixels for the pixels included in the second verification group Selecting a verification group having high spatial correlation among the first verification group and the second verification group; And
Selecting a bit value for the data concealed through the at least one reconstructed pixel based on a selection result for the verification population
Image-based data concealment method comprising a. The method according to claim 6,
The selected grid point is
Having a lattice pattern, there is no pixel adjacent to each of the at least one pixel among the plurality of pixels included in the at least one image block, and the at least one pixel is spaced apart from each other. Image-based data hiding method, which is a specified point. delete delete The method according to claim 6,
Transmitting the hidden image and the authentication information to an information receiving terminal.
Further comprising:
The information receiving terminal
And image-based data hiding method for restoring the data from the hidden image based on the authentication information. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for performing the method of any one of claims 6, 7, or 10.

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