Error Concealment for Digital Images Using Data Hiding

A novel strategy for error concealment of digital images is proposed in this paper, which is implemented by adopting the data hiding technique. Different from all the existing data hiding algorithms, the hidden data in our strategy is extracted from the host data, and then is embedded back into the host itself. Such a host signal with redundancy is proved to be robust when transmitted in the error-prone network environment, and the restored hidden data at the decoder can help improve the performance of error concealment of the lost data. Therefore, our new strategy has advanced a new way for solving the problem of error concealment. Meanwhile, it proposes a new application for the data hiding technologies, whose success have been mainly achieved when applied to copyright protection or image authentication. Furthermore, an algorithm as an example is developed based on the functionality of our new strategy, which could demonstrate its flexibility and efficiency.