Data Embedding Apparatus Selective Color Area Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital watermarking technologies degrade image quality when embedding data into images, particularly in areas with minor changes in grayscale values, leading to indiscriminate data embedding and quality loss.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that determines specific colors in an image area and adjusts embedding strength based on detected feature changes to prevent image quality degradation, embedding data only where necessary and modifying image data accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is embedded into image areas with minute changes in grayscale values, then data embedding capacity is improved, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining specific colors in different image areas and adjusting embedding strength according to both the complexity and color characteristics of each local area. White and gray areas are identified as having poor quality tolerance, so data embedding is controlled or avoided in these regions, while other areas allow embedding based on their complexity. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by making embedding capacity and quality protection context-dependent rather than uniform across the entire image.
2Device complexity
If embedding strength is controlled only based on complexity, then embedding process is simplified, but image quality degrades in sensitive areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the control parameters for embedding strength from only complexity-based to a dual-parameter system that includes both complexity and color information. By introducing color as an additional parameter, the system identifies white and gray areas that are sensitive to quality degradation and adjusts or prevents embedding in these regions. This multi-parameter approach maintains reasonable process complexity while significantly improving image quality protection in sensitive areas.
3Productivity
If data is embedded indiscriminately into all image areas, then data embedding efficiency is improved, but image quality deteriorates in white and gray areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality control by determining specific colors in each image area and applying different embedding strategies accordingly. White and gray areas are identified as having poor quality tolerance and are either excluded from embedding or given reduced embedding strength, while other areas allow more aggressive embedding based on their complexity. This selective approach maintains high embedding efficiency in suitable areas while protecting quality in sensitive regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the color characteristics of image areas before performing data embedding. The system identifies white and gray areas in advance and adjusts the embedding plan accordingly, preventing quality degradation before it occurs. This preliminary color determination step ensures that embedding operations are strategically directed to appropriate areas, maintaining both efficiency and quality.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus embeds data into an area of image data. The apparatus determines whether colors of the area are specific colors, modifies image data of the area based on a determination result, and embeds the data into the area.