Watermarking approach based on Hermite transform and a sliding window algorithm.

Abstract

Nowadays, the distribution of huge amounts of medical images through open networks in telemedicine applications has become increasingly faster and easier. Therefore, a number of considerations are introduced related to the risks of the illegal use of these images, as total diagnosis depends on them. Indeed, the patient's data management, storage, and transmission require a technique for boosting security, integrity and privacy measures in telehealthcare services. In fact, in our previous works, we used polynomial decompositions such as Chebychev orthogonal polynomial transform in medical image watermarking. We then customise our tools for finding the best candidate area for embedding the watermark, always seeking to provide the best solution to this issue. In this research, a variation to medical image watermarking approach based on Hermite transform (HT) is suggested for reliable management of medical data. In this approach, the HT is employed as a preprocessing step so as to extract the texture component of the host medical image. Afterward, a sliding window technique is done to select the most suitable regions for watermark embedding. Lastly, the Arnold transform is utilized for encrypting the watermark to strengthen the security of our scheme. Experiments were conducted on various modalities of medical images. Results indicate that the proposed scheme is robust when subjected to various attacks while preserving a high level of security and invisibility factors. Also, our method preserves the quality of medical images with a good embedding capacity. The obtained results support the use of Hermite Polynomials for the implementation of watermarking in the medical imaging context.