使用结构相似性指数的可逆信息隐藏算法

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0255-8297.2026.02.004

Abstract

Abstract: The distortions in reversible data hiding (RDH) include pixel distortion and structural distortion. With the high sensitivity of the human visual system to structural distortions in images considered, this paper adopted the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) as the evaluation metric for RDH. First, by analyzing the theoretical gain relationship between peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and SSIM, the dynamic and simultaneous evaluation of the two metrics was realized. Subsequently, a high-SSIM RDH method based on texture region prioritization was proposed. Image preprocessing was performed by dividing the carrier image into four independent pixel sets, and texture regions were accurately located. Data was then embedded in descending order of background complexity. Experimental results show that the strategy of prioritizing data embedding in texture regions reduces the structural distortion of images. At the same embedding rate, the SSIM value is improved, and the visual quality of images is enhanced.

Key words: reversible data hiding, structural similarity index measure, human visual system, texture region, background complexity

CLC Number:

TP391.4

GUO Kexin, XIANG Shijun. Reversible Data Hiding Algorithm Using Structural Similarity Index Measure[J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2026, 44(2): 224-233.

References

[1] Lu W, He L Y, Yeung Y, et al. Secure binary image steganography based on fused distortion measurement [J]. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 2018, 29(6): 1608-1618.
[2] Wang Z C, Qian Z X, Zhang X P, et al. On improving distortion functions for JPEG steganography [J]. IEEE Access, 2018, 6: 74917-74930.
[3] 安新辰, 倪蓉蓉, 赵耀. 基于网格细分和边界自适应的三维模型可见水印[J]. 应用科学学报, 2016, 34(5): 503-514. An X C, Ni R R, Zhao Y. Visible watermarking for 3D models based on boundary adaptation and mesh subdivision [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2016, 34(5): 503-514. (in Chinese)
[4] Sinhal R, Ansari I A, Ahn C W. Blind image watermarking for localization and restoration of color images [J]. IEEE Access, 2020, 8: 200157-200169.
[5] Ma S, Li X, Xiao M, et al. Fast expansion-bins-determination for multiple histograms modification based reversible data hiding [J]. IEEE Signal Process, 2022, 29: 662-666.
[6] Qian Z X, Zhou H, Zhang W M, et al. Robust steganography using texture synthesis [C]//Advances in Intelligent Information Hiding and Multimedia Signal Processing, 2017: 25-33.
[7] Barton J M. Method and apparatus for embedding authentication information within digital data: US19940357713[P]. 1994-12-14.
[8] Zhang W M, Ma K D, Yu N H. Reversibility improved data hiding in encrypted images [J]. Signal Processing, 2014, 94: 118-127.
[9] Yi S, Zhou Y C. Binary-block embedding for reversible data hiding in encrypted images [J]. Signal Processing, 2017, 133: 40-51.
[10] 邱应强, 陈馨, 杨玉燕, 等. 参数化二叉树编码实现加密图像可逆数据隐藏[J]. 应用科学学报, 2022, 40(3): 457-469. Qiu Y Q, Chen X, Yang Y Y, et al. Reversible data hiding in encrypted image using parametric binary tree labeling [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2022, 40(3): 457-469. (in Chinese)
[11] Wang Y, Cai Z, He W. High capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted image based on intra-block lossless compression [J]. IEEE Transactions Multimedia, 2021, 23: 1466-1473.
[12] Tian J. Reversible data embedding using a difference expansion [J]. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 2003, 13(8): 890-896.
[13] Hu Y J, Lee H K, Li J W. DE-based reversible data hiding with improved overflow location map [J]. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 2009, 19(2): 250-260.
[14] Ni Z C, Shi Y Q, Ansari N, et al. Reversible data hiding [J]. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 2006, 16(3): 354-362.
[15] Sachnev V, Kim H J, Nam J, et al. Reversible watermarking algorithm using sorting and prediction [J]. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 2009, 19(7): 989-999.
[16] Thodi D M, Rodríguez J J. Expansion embedding techniques for reversible watermarking [J]. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 2007, 16(3): 721-730.
[17] Fan M, Zhong S, Xiong X. Reversible data hiding method for interpolated images based on modulo operation and prediction-error expansion [J]. IEEE Access, 2023, 11: 27290-27302.
[18] Xiao M, Li X, Zhao Y. General distortion based reversible data hiding for binary covers [J]. IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 2022, 29: 2537-2541.
[19] Liang X, Xiang S. Reversible data hiding of grayscale images using general distortion metric [J]. IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 2023, 30: 1527-1531.
[20] Girod B. What’s wrong with mean-squared error [M]//Digital Images and Human Vision. WATSON A B, Ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993: 207-220.
[21] Wang Z, Bovik A C, Sheikh H R, et al. Image quality assessment: from error visibility to structural similarity [J]. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 2004, 13(4): 600-612.
[22] Horé A, Ziou D. Image quality metrics: PSNR vs. SSIM [C]//20th International Conference on Pattern Recognition, 2010: 2366-2369.
[23] Yang X, Huang F J. New CNN-based predictor for reversible data hiding [J]. IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 2022, 29: 2627-2631.
[24] Kim S, Qu X C, Sachnev V, et al. Skewed histogram shifting for reversible data hiding using a pair of extreme predictions [J]. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, 2019, 29(11): 3236-3246.
[25] Jia Y, Yin Z, Zhang X, et al. Reversible data hiding based on reducing invalid shifting of pixels in histogram shifting [J]. Signal Processing, 2019, 163: 238-246.
[26] Hu R W, Xiang S J. CNN prediction based reversible data hiding [J]. IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 2021, 28: 464-468.

Reversible Data Hiding Algorithm Using Structural Similarity Index Measure

PDF

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

References

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

[1]	TANG Xin, FU Yaowen, ZHANG Yiwei, CHEN Haixin, ZHOU Yiteng. Virtual Blocks Based Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Domain for Images [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2025, 43(3): 504-518.
[2]	ZHOU Tongyang, TANG Xin, XU Yichen, SONG Chuqiao, BAI Jing, ZOU Yifei. Multi-pass PVO Reversible Data Hiding Based on Spatial Location Optimization [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2025, 43(3): 387-402.
[3]	XIE Yiyi, ZHANG Yushu, ZHAO Ruoyu, WEN Wenying, ZHOU Yuqian. Image Privacy Protection Based on Cycle-Consistent Generative Adversarial Networks [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2023, 41(2): 228-239.
[4]	WENG Ke, QIN Jianhao, SONG Tianran, SHI Hui. Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Image Based on Dual-Domain Joint Coding and Secret Sharing [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2023, 41(2): 197-217.
[5]	QIU Yingqiang, CHEN Xin, YANG Yuyan, ZENG Huanqiang, QIAN Zhenxing. Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Image Using Parametric Binary Tree Labeling [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2022, 40(3): 457-469.
[6]	HE Yufen, TANG Jin, YIN Zhaoxia. Reversible Data Hiding Based on Multi-Pair Asymmetric Histogram Modification [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2022, 40(2): 253-265.
[7]	YANG Yang, LI Xinran, HU Jinchuan. Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Domain with Block Rearrangement [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2021, 39(6): 906-922.
[8]	WANG Junxiang, MAO Ningxiong, ZHAO Yi, WANG Chuntao. Large Color Image Based High-Performance Reversible Data Hiding Hcheme for Various Capacities [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2019, 37(5): 744-760.
[9]	QU Lingfeng, CHEN fan, HE Hongjie, YUAN yuan. Security Analysis of Image Encryption Algorithm Based on Bit Plane-Pixel Block Scrambling [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2019, 37(5): 631-642.
[10]	HE Zhi-hong, QIN Chuan, ZHOU Qing. High-Capacity Reversible Data Hiding for Encrypted Images [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2018, 36(4): 611-627.
[11]	WANG Xiao-yu, MA Bin, LI Jian, SHI Yun-qing. Adaptive Image Reversible Data Hiding Error Prediction Algorithm Based on Multiple Linear Regression [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2018, 36(2): 362-370.
[12]	LIU Xiao-kai, YAO Heng, QIN Chuan. Improved Reversible Image Camouflage Method Based on Image Block Classifcation Threshold Optimization [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2018, 36(2): 237-246.
[13]	HUANG Dan, CHENG Si-jin, HUANG Fang-jun. Reversible Data Hiding Based on Frequency Selection in JPEG Images [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2018, 36(2): 209-219.
[14]	YAN Bing, BAI Sen, YANG Yi, JI Xiao-yong. Improved PVO-k Algorithm for Reversible Data Hiding [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2016, 34(5): 605-615.
[15]	TIAN Ye, XIANG Shi-jun. A Separable Scheme of Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Images [J]. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2015, 33(6): 585-594.