Abstract
While formal definitions and security proofs are well established in some fields like cryptography and steganography, they are not as evident in digital watermarking research. A systematic development of watermarking schemes is desirable, but at present, their development is usually informal, ad hoc, and omits the complete realization of application scenarios. This practice not only hinders the choice and use of a suitable scheme for a watermarking application, but also leads to debate about the state-of-the-art for different watermarking applications. With a view to the systematic development of watermarking schemes, we present a formal generic model for digital image watermarking. Considering possible inputs, outputs, and component functions, the initial construction of a basic watermarking model is developed further to incorporate the use of keys. On the basis of our proposed model, fundamental watermarking properties are defined and their importance exemplified for different image applications. We also define a set of possible attacks using our model showing different winning scenarios depending on the adversary capabilities. It is envisaged that with a proper consideration of watermarking properties and adversary actions in different image applications, use of the proposed model would allow a unified treatment of all practically meaningful variants of watermarking schemes.
Highlights
Digital watermarking - a data hiding technology - has already justified its suitability for different multimedia applications
In our earlier work [2], we introduced a formal generic watermarking model for image applications addressing a gap in watermarking literature
Addressing the gap, in this paper, we have presented our work in three main parts: (i) a formal watermarking model, (ii) definitions and uses of fundamental properties, and (iii) possible attacks on the watermarking security
Summary
Digital watermarking - a data hiding technology - has already justified its suitability for different multimedia applications. Operation determination helps identify the objectives and properties of a watermarking scheme with their explicit consideration for an application scenario, and mathematical formalism is used to specify them. This practice hinders watermarking applications from choosing a suitable scheme, and leads to debate about the state-of-the-art for different watermarking applications Addressing this problem requires a complete generic model with well-defined properties of digital watermarking as a basis for its formal study. By determining the required (watermarking) inputs, outputs, and properties for different objectives, this model helps characterize a watermarking scheme. Analyzing various security issues (e.g., vector quantization attacks [16] arising from an input image independent watermark generation), and abstraction of new schemes (which are not spread-spectrum communication based) may require a further development of that model. How the watermarking key and/or the mark (which represents either a fingerprint - hidden serial number, or a watermark hidden copyright message) is chosen/generated needs to be explicitly defined
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
