Quantum Carrier Image Research Articles

Quantum Watermarking Based on Neighbor Mean Interpolation and LSB Steganography Algorithms

This paper investigates a quantum watermarking scheme using image interpolation method. Based on the novel enhanced quantum representation of digital images (NEQR), a new scaling-up quantum carrier is generated via Neighbor Mean Interpolation (NMI) method first. Then, three binary watermark images are formed a conceptual quantum watermark image with 3-qubit grayscale based on NEQR, and it is embedded into the new generated quatnum carrier image pixel’s least significant bit (LSB). To achieve this aim, the Quantum Fourier Transform (QFT) is introduced first. Based on QFT operations, several QFT based quantum modules, i.e., quantum Adder, Subtractor and Divider are defined as well as some others commonly used quantum modules also reviewed. Following that, based on these quantum modules, the quantum circuit for image scaling-up is presented first, which can generate a new enlarged quantum carrier image. Then, based on the generated quantum carrier image, we further illustrate the integrated quantum circuit for how to embed quantum watermark images into quantum grayscale carrier images. Finally, the quantum circuit complexity is analyzed, which proves that we presented quantum watermarking scheme can be realized within polynomial time complexity, and the experiment results based on classical computer (i.e., non-quantum version) are simulated under the classical computer software MATLAB 2016a, which demonstrates that we investigated method has an acceptable visual effect and also easy to detect the attacks.

Matrix Coding-Based Quantum Image Steganography Algorithm

Embedding secret information into quantum carrier image for covert communication is one of significant research fields of quantum secure communication. Using good imperceptibility and high embedding efficiency of matrix coding, this paper proposes a novel matrix coding-based quantum steganography algorithm for quantum color images. In order to better apply matrix coding in actual demand, two different embedding methods are proposed. One embedding method is single pixel-embedded (1, 3, 2) coding, called SPE (1, 3, 2) coding for short. This method embeds two qubits of secret information into three least significant qubits (LSQbs) of a single pixel of quantum carrier image, and at most only one LSQb would be changed. The other embedding method is the multiple pixels-embedded (1, 3, 2) coding, called MPsE (1, 3, 2) coding, in which three LSQbs of multiple carrier pixels are utilized to embed two secret qubits. On account of experimental simulation obtained in the MATLAB environment, it shows that the new algorithm has good performance in the imperceptibility, the security, the embedding efficiency, and the embedding capacity.

A self-adaptive quantum steganography algorithm based on QLSb modification in watermarked quantum image

As one of important research branches of quantum information hiding, quantum steganography embeds secret information into quantum images for covert communication by integrating quantum secure communication technology and classical steganography. In this paper, based on the novel enhanced quantum representation (NEQR), a novel quantum steganography algorithm is proposed to transfer secret information by virtue of quantum watermarked image. In order to achieve this goal, the least significant qubit (LSQb) of quantum carrier image is replaced with the secret information by implementing quantum circuit. Compared with the previous quantum steganography algorithms, the communicating parties can recover the secret information tampered, meanwhile the tampers can be located effectively. In the experiment result, the peak signal-to-noise ratios (PSNRs) are calculated for different quantum watermarked images and quantum watermarks, which demonstrate the imperceptibility of the algorithm is good and the secret information embedded can be recovered by virtue of its self-adaptive mechanism.

Efficient Quantum Information Hiding for Remote Medical Image Sharing

Information hiding aims to embed secret data into the multimedia, such as image, audio, video, and text. In this paper, two new quantum information hiding approaches are put forward. A quantum steganography approach is proposed to hide a quantum secret image into a quantum cover image. The quantum secret image is encrypted first using a controlled-NOT gate to demonstrate the security of the embedded data. The encrypted secret image is embedded into the quantum cover image using the two most and least significant qubits. In addition, a quantum image watermarking approach is presented to hide a quantum watermark gray image into a quantum carrier image. The quantum watermark image, which is scrambled by utilizing Arnold’s cat map, is then embedded into the quantum carrier image using the two least and most significant qubits. Only the watermarked image and the key are sufficient to extract the embedded quantum watermark image. The proposed novelty has been illustrated using a scenario of sharing medical imagery between two remote hospitals. The simulation and analysis demonstrate that the two newly proposed approaches have excellent visual quality and high embedding capacity and security.

A Robust Quantum Watermark Algorithm Based on Quantum Log-polar Images

Copyright protection for quantum image is an important research branch of quantum information technology. In this paper, based on quantum log-polar image (QUALPI), a new quantum watermark algorithm is proposed to better protect copyright of quantum image. In order to realize quantum watermark embedding, the least significant qubit (LSQb) of quantum carrier image is replaced by quantum watermark image. The new algorithm has good practicability for designing quantum circuits of embedding and extracting watermark image respectively. Compared to previous quantum watermark algorithms, the new algorithm effectively utilizes two important properties of log-polar sampling, i.e., rotation and scale invariances. These invariances make quantum watermark image extracted have a good robustness when stego image was subjected to various geometric attacks, such as rotation, flip, scaling and translation. Experimental simulation based on MATLAB shows that the new algorithm has a good performance on robustness, transparency and capacity.

Quantum Cosine Transform Based Watermarking Scheme for Quantum Images

A novel watermarking scheme for quantum image is proposed based on Quantum cosine transform (QCT). The cosine coefficients are extracted by executing QCT on quantum image. A dynamic vector for controlling embedding strength instead of a fixed parameter for embedding process in other scheme is utilized to process quantum watermark. The adder operation and the inverse QCT are implemented which offset the QCT and guarantee the embedding process having smaller impact on the quantum carrier image. Simulation results and analysis show that the proposed dynamic watermarking scheme has better visual quality under a higher embedding capacity.

A duple watermarking strategy for multi-channel quantum images

Utilizing a stockpile of efficient transformations consisting of channel of interest, channel swapping, and quantum Fourier transforms, a duple watermarking strategy on multi-channel quantum images is proposed. It embeds the watermark image both into the spatial domain and the frequency domain of the multi-channel quantum carrier image, while also providing a quantum measurement-based algorithm to generate an unknown key that is used to protect the color information, which accompanies another key that is mainly used to scramble the spatial content of the watermark image in order to further safeguard the copyright of the carrier image. Simulation-based experiments using a watermark logo and nine building images as watermark image and carrier images, respectively, offer a duple protection for the copyright of carrier images in terms of the visible quality of the watermarked images. The proposed stratagem advances available literature in the quantum watermarking research field and sets the stage for the applications aimed at quantum data protection.

Analysis and improvement of the dynamic watermarking scheme for quantum images using quantum wavelet transform

We investigate the dynamic watermarking scheme for quantum images using quantum wavelet transform (QWT) proposed by Song et al. (Quantum Inf Process 12(12):3689---3706, 2013). It is aimed to embed the watermark image into the wavelet coefficients of the quantum carrier image. However, in our opinion, the key procedures of the protocol are wrong. At last, a possible improvement strategy is presented.

Analysis and improvement of the watermark strategy for quantum images based on quantum Fourier transform

We investigate the quantum watermark strategy for quantum images based on quantum Fourier transform proposed by Zhang et al.(Quantum Inf Process 12(2):793---803, 2013). It is aimed to embed the watermark image into the Fourier coefficients of the quantum carrier image without affecting the carrier image's visual effect. However, in our opinion the protocol is not clearly described and several steps are ambiguous. Moreover, we argue that the watermarking algorithm claimed by the authors is incorrect. At last, a possible improvement strategy is presented.

A watermark strategy for quantum images based on quantum fourier transform

We present a robust watermark strategy for quantum images. The watermark image is embedded into the fourier coefficients of the quantum carrier image, which will not affect the carrier image's visual effect. Before being embedded into the carrier image, the watermark image is preprocessed to be seemingly meaningless using quantum circuit, which further ensures the security of the watermark image. The properties of fourier transform ensure that the watermark embedded in the carrier image resists the unavoidable noise and cropping.