Optimum Histogram Pair Based Image Lossless Data Embedding

This paper presents an optimum histogram pair based image lossless data embedding scheme using integer wavelet transform and adaptive histogram modification. This new scheme is characterized by (1) the selection of best threshold T , which leads to the highest PSNR of the marked image for a given payload, (2) the adaptive histogram modification, which aims at avoiding underflow and/or overflow, is carried out only when it is necessary, and treats the left side and the right side of histogram individually, seeking a minimum amount of histogram modification, and (3) the selection of most suitable embedding region, which attempts to further improve the PSNR of the marked image in particular when the payload is low. Consequently, it can achieve the highest visual quality of marked image for a given payload as compared with the prior arts of image lossless data hiding. The experimental results have been presented to confirm the claimed superior performance.