Digital watermarking on EBCOT compressed images

In this research, we propose an approach to combine the image compression and the image watermarking schemes in an effective way. The image coding scheme under our consideration is EBCOT (Embedded Block Coding with Optimized Truncation) which is the basis of JPEG2000 VM (Verification Model). The watermark is embedded when the compressed bit-stream is formed, and can be detected on the fly during image decompression. With the proposed integrated method, watermark embedding and retrieval processes can be done very efficiently compared with existing watermarking schemes. The embedded watermark is robust against various signal processing attacks including compression and filtering while the resulting watermarked image maintains good perceptual quality. Furthermore, the watermark can be detected progressively and ROI (Region of Interest)-based watermarking can be easily accomplished.