Embedding Data Into Pictures by Modulo Masking

Three systems are proposed for embedding data into industrial quality monochrome analog pictures. The video signal on each scan line is sampled, and a data bit is inserted into a block of three or five pels by modulo masking scrambling the luminance level of only one pel in the block. Prior to transmission, the combined data and video sequence is converted into a continuous signal with a bandwidth that is no greater than that of the original video signal. Using six images each containing 65 536 pels, Systems 1 and 2 embedded an average of 17 430 and 8713 bits per image, while System 3 accommodated data at a constant rate of 21 760 bits/image. The data embedding procedures of Systems 1, 2, and 3 operated with average picture SNR's of 41, 44, and 30 dB, respectively, when the transmission channel was ideal. When the transmission was over a channel composed of a second-order Butterworth filter plus additive noise that yield a channel SNR of 40 dB, no bit errors occurred but System 3 offered the greater safety margin to bit errors than Systems 1 and 2.