Tree Structure Based Data Hiding for Progressive Transmission Images

Progressive image transmission (PIT) is supported by several encoders such as SPIHT, JPEG2000 and so on. However, few of data hiding scheme for progressive transmission images is designed. In this paper, tree-structure-based data hiding for set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) images is proposed. The bit stream of SPIHT multi-stage encoded was structured of tree. The secret image can be progressively embedded into SPIHT bit trees. Experimental results showed the progressive image data hiding is achieved. The secret image is progressively embedded/extracted in SPIHT encoded images. Furthermore, a higher hiding capacity was provided in an earlier encoding which helped the secret image to be identified earlier. Also, an adaptive hiding capacity could be developed by using different tree structures. In comparison with Tsai et al.'s scheme, the proposed scheme had a higher hiding capacity and a better secret image quality.