Image Integrity Verification via Non-Image Data Watermarking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack mechanisms to protect and detect manipulation of non-image data in image files, which is crucial for maintaining integrity, especially in medical imaging where manipulation can affect the authenticity and quality of care.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a unique code based on non-image data and incorporates it into the image data using digital image watermarking techniques, allowing for verification of integrity by comparing the embedded code with a regenerated code, thus identifying any manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If image data and non-image data are stored separately in image files, then the image file can contain comprehensive information for medical imaging and analysis, but the non-image data can be easily manipulated and its integrity cannot be verified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protection mechanism with the existing image file structure by embedding integrity verification codes directly into the image data portion. This combining approach ensures that the non-image data integrity is protected without requiring separate storage systems or complex additional infrastructure, thus maintaining versatility while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary integrity verification code that links the non-image data to the image data. This code acts as a mediator that can be used to verify whether the non-image data has been manipulated, solving the reliability problem while preserving the comprehensive information storage capability.
2Loss of information
If watermarking techniques are used on image data, then confidential or authorship information can be hidden, but there is no mechanism to protect or detect manipulation of non-image data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the functionality of watermarking techniques to serve dual purposes: (1) hiding confidential or authorship information in the image data, and (2) providing integrity verification for non-image data through embedded codes. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction by making the same technical mechanism serve both information protection and integrity verification needs.
3Ease of operation
If image files are easily manipulated after storage, then flexibility in editing and re-saving is achieved, but the integrity of image data and non-image data cannot be relied upon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding integrity verification codes into the image data at the time of image file creation, before any potential manipulation occurs. This proactive measure ensures that even if the image file is later edited or re-saved, the integrity of the original non-image data can be verified by comparing against the pre-embedded code, thus maintaining reliability while preserving operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for determining integrity of images is disclosed herein. The method includes determining the integrity of a non-image data of an image file. The method of protecting images comprises: obtaining an image file having both image data and non-image data and generating at least one code based on the non-image data at the time of creation of the image file. The code is incorporated into the image data of the image file in a visually non-detectable format. In an example, a digital watermarking technique is used to incorporate the code into the image data.