A New Wavelet-based Scheme for Watermarking Images

A new method for digital image watermarking which does not require the original image for watermark detection is presented. Assuming that we are using a transform domain spread spectrum watermarking scheme, it is important to add the watermark in select coe cients with signi cant image energy in the transform domain in order to ensure non-erasability of the watermark. Previous methods, which did not use the original in the detection process, could not selectively add the watermark to the signi cant coe cients, since the locations of such selected coe cients can change due to image manipulations. Since watermark veri cation typically consists of a process of correlation which is extremely sensitive to the relative order in which the watermark coe cients are placed within the image, such changes in the location of the watermarked coe cients was unacceptable. We present a scheme which overcomes this problem of \order sensitivity". Advantages of the proposed method include (i) improved resistance to attacks on the watermark, (ii) implicit visual masking utilizing the time-frequency localization property of the wavelet transform and (iii) a robust de nition for the threshold which validates the watermark. We present results comparing our method with previous techniques, which clearly validate our claims.