Methods and apparatus for multi-layer data hiding

• US 6,456,726 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Xin, Gelman, Alexander D., Wu, Min, Yu, Hong Heather
• Primary Examiner(s): Au, Amelia M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, MARTIN E
• Application Number:
  US09/427,321
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/248, 382/250, 380/54, 713/176, 348/460-468
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks

Abstract

A data hiding system and method for providing a method of embedding multiple layers of hidden data into multimedia data. First, a media unit of the multimedia data is evaluated to determine an appropriate embedding procedure. Next during a first embedding pass, a ruling layer of primary hidden data is embedded into the media unit. In another embedding pass, a governing layer of secondary hidden data is embedded on top of the ruling layer. The secondary hidden data provides control information for controlling the primary hidden data and the host data. Control information such as error correction data, synchronization data, decoding data, and authentication data is embedded in the governing layer. Embedding schemes such as base domain and spectrum domain embedding are employed.

Claims

1. A method of embedding hidden data into host data having a media unit, comprising the steps of:

evaluating the media unit of the host data;

assessing the data hiding capacity of said media unit and selecting at least one embedding space and at least one embedding algorithm to accommodate multiple data hiding goals associated with two different hidden data layers;

embedding a ruling layer of primary hidden data into the media unit; and

embedding at least one governing layer of secondary hidden data on top of the ruling layer of primary hidden data, such that embedding the primary and secondary hidden data into the host data generates embedded data, wherein the governing layer of secondary hidden data provides control information for controlling the primary hidden data and the host data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of mapping the primary hidden data into a bitstream before embedding into the media unit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondary hidden data is selected from the group of:

error correction data, identification data, access control data, keys, management rules, synchronization data, decoding data, and authentication data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of embedding further comprise employing an embedding scheme selected from the group of:

base domain embedding and spectrum domain embedding.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting an embedding technique wherein the secondary hidden data is embedded substantially noninterfering with the primary hidden data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the embedding technique is selected from the group of:

substantially noninterfering features extracted from the same domain, substantially noninterfering subbands, substantially noninterfering frames, and substantially noninterfering embedding domains.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of embedding further include the step of controllably varying the quantity of bits that are embedded into the media unit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of embedding further include the step of embedding the hidden data into a plurality of media units.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the media unit is selected from the group of:

frames of video, frames of audio, and images.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one governing layer is subjected to a quantity of distortion, and wherein the step of embedding at least one governing layer comprises the steps of;

evaluating the quantity of distortion to which the at least one governing layer is subjected;

selecting an embedding scheme based upon the quantity of distortion; and

using the selected embedding scheme to embed the at least one governing layer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of embedding at least one governing layer comprises the steps of using spectrum domain embedding to embed a first governing layer and using sub-band embedding to embed a second governing layer.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary hidden data is selected from the group of:

passive data and active data.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of decoding the embedded data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of decoding further comprises the steps of:

decoding the governing layer, such that the secondary hidden data is extracted from the embedded data; and

decoding the ruling layer, such that the primary hidden data is extracted from the embedded data.

15. A method of embedding hidden data into host data having a media unit, comprising the steps of:

evaluating the media unit of the host data;

mapping primary hidden data into a bitstream

selecting a first embedding scheme to embed a ruling layer of the primary hidden data into the media unit;

using base domain embedding to embed the ruling layer;

selecting a second embedding scheme to embed at least one governing layer of secondary hidden data into the media unit;

selecting an embedding technique so that the embedded secondary hidden data is substantially noninterfering with the primary hidden data; and

using the second embedding scheme to embed the at least one governing layer of secondary-hidden data on top of the ruling layer of embedded data, wherein the governing layer of hidden data includes error correction data for controlling the operation of the primary hidden data.

16. A data hiding system for embedding hidden data into host data, comprising:

a media assessor that assesses the data hiding capacity of said media unit and selects at least one embedding space and at least one embedding algorithm to accommodate multiple data hiding goals associated with two different hidden data layers;

a bit stream generator for converting primary hidden data into a bitstream;

a ruling layer encoder for embedding at least one ruling layer of the primary hidden data bitstream into a media unit of the host data, wherein ruling layer encoded data is generated;

a control data generator for generating secondary hidden data from the primary hidden data and the ruling layer encoded data; and

a governing layer encoder for embedding at least one governing layer of the secondary hidden data into the ruling layer encoded data, such that embedded data is generated.

17. The data hiding system of claim 16 wherein the primary hidden data is selected from the group of:

passive data and active data.

18. The data hiding system of claim 16 wherein the media unit is selected from the group of:

frames of video, frames of audio, and images.

19. The data hiding system of claim 16 wherein the secondary hidden data is selected from the group of:

error correction data, synchronization data, identification data, keys, access control data, management rules, and authentication data.

20. The data hiding system of claim 16 wherein the secondary hidden data is embedded orthogonal to the primary hidden data.

21. A method:

of embedding hidden data into host data having a media unit, comprising the steps of;

evaluating the media unit of the host data;

embedding a ruling layer of primary hidden data into the media unit; and

embedding at least one governing layer of secondary hidden data on top of the ruling layer of primary hidden data, such that embedding the primary and secondary hidden data into the host data generates embedded data, wherein the governing layer of secondary hidden data provides control information for controlling the primary hidden data and the host data;

wherein the at least one governing layer is subjected to a quantity of distortion, and wherein the step of embedding at least one governing layer comprises the steps of;

evaluating the quantity of distortion to which the at least one governing layer is subjected;

selecting an embedding scheme based upon the quantity of distortion; and

using the selected embedding scheme to embed the at least one governing layer.

22. A method of embedding hidden data into host data having a media unit, comprising the steps of:

evaluating the media unit of the host data;

embedding a ruling layer of primary hidden data into the media unit; and

embedding at least one governing layer of secondary hidden data on top of the ruling layer of primary hidden data, such that embedding the primary and secondary hidden data into the host data generates embedded data, wherein the governing layer of secondary hidden data provides control information for controlling the primary hidden data and the host data; and

wherein the stop of embedding at least one governing layer comprises the steps of using spectrum domain embedding to embed a first governing layer and using sub-band embedding to embed a second governing layer.