Digital Image Pixel Authentication via Block Hashing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital forensic techniques are unable to authenticate every individual pixel in a digital image, making it difficult to detect alterations such as cloning, resampling, or splicing, which are increasingly common due to the ease of image manipulation with digital cameras and image processing software.
Innovation Solution
A method of encoding digital images by partitioning them into specific pixel rows, generating and hashing codes, and embedding these codes into the remaining pixel row using RGB color codes, allowing for later authentication by comparing generated and extracted codes to detect any alterations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional digital forensic techniques use statistical analysis to detect alterations, then they can detect some types of alterations (cloning, resampling, splicing), but they are not capable of authenticating every individual pixel in a digital image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the digital image into multiple blocks, with each block containing multiple pixels. A unique identifier is generated for each block and embedded within that block. This segmentation approach allows individual pixel authentication through block-level verification, resolving the contradiction by enabling precise pixel-level tracking while maintaining reliable alteration detection across the entire image.
2Reliability
If digital images are encoded with authentication data, then pixel alteration detection capability is improved, but the encoding process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image is divided into blocks, and authentication data is embedded at the block level rather than requiring complex pixel-level encoding. Each block receives a unique identifier that is relatively simple to generate and embed, reducing overall encoding complexity while maintaining reliable authentication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hashing functions to generate unique identifiers for each block based on the pixel data within that block. This copying approach creates a simplified representation of the original image data that can be easily embedded and verified, reducing encoding complexity while preserving authentication reliability.
3Measurement precision
If authentication data is embedded in every block, then pixel-level alteration detection is achieved, but the amount of data embedded in the image increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of embedding extensive authentication data in every block, the patent uses hashing functions to generate compact unique identifiers for each block. These hash-based identifiers are much smaller in size while still providing precise alteration detection capability, thus reducing the total embedded data volume while maintaining high detection precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
An encoding apparatus partitions a digital image into multiple regions for subsequent encoding. A first encryption code is associated with a first region, a second encryption code is associated with a second region and the first code, and a third code is associated with the first code, the second code and a third region. An authentication apparatus authenticates the digital image in an inverse process.