Multiple Description Coding with Application in Multimedia Watermarking

Abstract

Digital watermarking is a useful and powerful tool for multimedia security such as copyright protection, tamper proofing and assessment, broadcast monitoring, and fingerprinting. Many multimedia services are provided through wire/wireless communications, where transmission errors are present. Robustness of watermarking is a major concern during the transmission of watermarked multimedia messages. Multiple description coding (MDC) is a promising method for robust transmission of information over non-prioritized and unpredictable networks. As a source coding scheme, multiple description coding has been extensively studied and applied in audio, image, and video sources. It is also interesting to find that multiple description coding can be applied in multimedia watermarking. Recently several multiple description watermarking schemes have been developed which have exhibited some advantages. In this chapter, the concept, design algorithms, and some applications of multiple description coding are reviewed. Particularly, the application of MDC in watermarking, known as multiple description watermarking, is elaborated based on recent research results.