Image Watermarking Brightness Region Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for watermarking electronic images often obscure content, particularly text, making it difficult to protect image ownership and security while maintaining visibility, especially when the watermark obscures meaningful portions of the image.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining the location of a watermark on an image by calculating region brightness values and selecting the brightest or darkest area of the same size as the watermark to minimize content obscuration, using a processor and software to calculate and place the watermark efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a watermark is placed over the original content of the image, then ownership identification and security are improved, but image content visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by analyzing different regions of the image and selecting the brightest region for watermark placement. This ensures that the watermark is placed in an area where it will be least noticeable, thereby maintaining image content visibility while still achieving ownership identification. The brightness analysis creates local quality differentiation across the image regions.
2Loss of information
If a watermark is placed with less than 100% opacity, then image content visibility is maintained, but watermark effectiveness and security are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of watermark placement from opacity adjustment to location selection based on brightness analysis. Instead of modifying the watermark's transparency to maintain visibility, the system selects the optimal location (brightest region) where the watermark naturally blends better with the image, thereby maintaining both effectiveness and visibility without compromising either.
3Illumination intensity
If a watermark is placed in a dark region of the image, then watermark visibility is improved, but image content obscuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by selecting the brightest region instead of the darkest region for watermark placement. This inversion strategy ensures that the watermark is placed where it will be least noticeable against the background, thereby reducing image content obscuration while maintaining adequate watermark visibility through proper contrast management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining a location for a watermark on an image having an array of pixels, each pixel having image information associated therewith includes determining a size for the watermark. The size has a pixel height and a pixel width. The method also includes calculating a region brightness value for each of a plurality of regions of the image. Each of the plurality of regions has a pixel height and a pixel width equal to the pixel height and the pixel width of the watermark. Each of the plurality of regions includes a plurality of pixels and the brightness value is representative of the image information associated with the plurality of pixels comprised by the region. The method also includes selecting one of the plurality of regions as the location for the watermark. The selection is based, at least in part, on the brightness value for the region.