Multiple color-image fusion and watermarking based on optical interference and wavelet transform

A novel multiple color-image fusion and watermarking using optical interference and wavelet transform is proposed. In this method, each secret color image is encoded into three phase-only masks (POMs). One POM is constructed as user identity key and the other two POMs are generated as user identity key modulated by corresponding secret color image in gyrator transform domain without using any time-consuming iterative computations or post-processing of the POMs to remove inherent silhouette problem. The R, G, and B channels of different user identity keys POM are then individually multiplied to get three multiplex POMs, which are exploited as encrypted images. Similarly the R, G, and B channels of other two POMs are independently multiplied to obtain two sets of three multiplex POMs. The encrypted images are fused with gray-level cover image to produce the final encrypted image as watermarked image. The secret color images are shielded by encrypted images (which have no information about secret images) as well as cover image (which reveals no information about encrypted images). These two remarkable features of the proposed system drastically reduce the probability of the encrypted images to be searched and attacked. Each individual user has an identity key and two phase-only keys as three decryption keys besides transformation angles regarded as additional keys. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation results validate the feasibility of the proposed method.     

Multiple-image encryption with bit-plane decomposition and chaotic maps

Image encryption is an efficient technique of image content protection. In this work, we propose a useful image encryption algorithm for multiple grayscale images. The proposed algorithm decomposes input images into bit-planes, randomly swaps bit-blocks among different bit-planes, and conducts XOR operation between the scrambled images and secret matrix controlled by chaotic map. Finally, an encrypted PNG image is obtained by viewing four scrambled grayscale images as its red, green, blue and alpha components. Many simulations are done to illustrate efficiency of our algorithm.     

A blind image detection method for information hiding with double random-phase encoding

In this paper, a blind image detection method based on a statistical hypothesis test for information hiding with double random-phase encoding (DRPE) is proposed. This method aims to establish a quantitative criterion which is used to judge whether there is secret information embedded in the detected image. The main process can be described as follows: at the beginning, we decompose the detected gray-scale image into 8 bit planes considering it has 256 gray levels, and suppose that a secret image has been hidden in the detected image after it was encrypted by DRPE, thus the lower bit planes of the detected image exhibit strong randomness. Then, we divide the bit plane to be tested into many windows, and establish a statistical variable to measure the relativity between pixels in every window. Finally, judge whether the secret image exists in the detected image by operating the t test on all statistical variables. Numerical simulation shows that the accuracy is quite satisfactory, when we need to distinguish the images carrying secret information from a large amount of images.     

Robust image encryption by combined use of integral imaging and pixel scrambling techniques

A robust image encryption method by using the integral imaging and pixel scrambling (PS) techniques is proposed. In this method, pixels of the cover image are scrambled with the PS technique and elemental images for this scrambled image are picked up through a lenslet array. Subsequently, an encrypted image is obtained by scrambling these picked-up elemental images. Since this encrypted image has the hologram-like property of data redundancy resulted from the integral imaging scheme, while it can as well be decoded by multiple keys such as the orders of pixel scrambling and the pickup conditions of the elemental images, its security against the various attacks could be dramatically improved. Good experimental results also confirm that the proposed method could provide more enhanced robustness against data loss and Gaussian noises compared to the conventional methods.     

A mixed scrambling operation for hiding image

A mixed scrambling operation is defined by the use of Arnold transform and Baker mapping. Following a designed sequence, the combined scrambling operation is utilized for changing the pixel position of secret image under the control of a random matrix. At the same time, the pixel value is altered by random bit shift for obtaining an encrypted image encoded in N-bit data. The operations mentioned above are employed for all pixels of original secret image. Finally an encrypted image is obtained and encoded into N-bit data being from the input image. Some numerical simulations have been achieved for checking the performance of the image hiding scheme.     

Attack on double-random-phase-encoding-based image hiding method

The double-random phase-encoding (DRPE) technique is a typical optical image encryption technique, which can also be used for image hiding. Usually, the secret image is encrypted with the DRPE technique and the encoded image is hidden into the host image via superimposition to obtain the stego-image. The attack technique on the DRPE-based image hiding method was proposed in this paper. Firstly, a randomly selected superimposition coefficient was used to approximate the original superimposition coefficient to extract the hidden encoded images from the stego-images approximately. Then, the chosen-plaintext attack technique on the DRPE-based optical image encryption technique was applied to recover the random phase masks used in the DRPE technique. The theoretical analysis indicated that, without considering the computational error, the recovered secret image via the proposed attack technique is identical to the original one. Even considering the computational error, it is identical to the secret image recovered with the original DRPE-based image hiding method, which demonstrates that the attack on the DRPE-based image hiding method is successfully achieved. The numerical simulation results demonstrated the correctness of the theoretical analysis.     

Continuous-Variable Quantum Secret Sharing Based on Thermal Terahertz Sources in Inter-Satellite Wireless Links

We propose a continuous-variable quantum secret sharing (CVQSS) scheme based on thermal terahertz (THz) sources in inter-satellite wireless links (THz-CVQSS). In this scheme, firstly, each player locally preforms Gaussian modulation to prepare a thermal THz state, and then couples it into a circulating spatiotemporal mode using a highly asymmetric beam splitter. At the end, the dealer measures the quadrature components of the received spatiotemporal mode through performing the heterodyne detection to share secure keys with all the players of a group. This design enables that the key can be recovered only by the whole group players’ knowledge in cooperation and neither a single player nor any subset of the players in the group can recover the key correctly. We analyze both the security and the performance of THz-CVQSS in inter-satellite links. Results show that a long-distance inter-satellite THz-CVQSS scheme with multiple players is feasible. This work will provide an effective way for building an inter-satellite quantum communication network.     

Novel image encryption algorithm based on cycle shift and chaotic system

In this paper, a novel image encryption algorithm is proposed. The cycle shift in bits of pixels and the chaotic system are employed for the encryption of the proposed scheme. For cycle shift operations, random integers with the same size of the original image are produced to scramble the plaintext image. Moreover, the scrambled image effects the initial values of the chaotic system for the further encryption process, which increases the sensitivity of plaintext images of the scheme. The scrambled image is encrypted into the ciphered image by the keys which are produced by the chaotic system. The simulation experiments and theoretical analyses indicate that the proposed scheme is superior and able to resist exhaustive attack and statistical attack.     

Double image encryption using double pixel scrambling and random phase encoding

A novel double image encryption method is proposed by utilizing double pixel scrambling technique and random fractional Fourier domain encoding. One of the two original images is encoded into the phase of a complex signal after being scrambled by one matrix, and the other original image encoded into its amplitude after being scrambled by another matrix. The complex signal is then encrypted into stationary white noise by utilizing double random phase encoding in fractional Fourier domain. By applying the correct keys with fractional orders, the random phase masks and the pixel scrambling operation, the two original images can be retrieved without cross-talk. Numerical simulations have been done to prove the validity and the security of the proposed encryption method.     

Double-image encryption based on discrete fractional random transform and chaotic maps

A novel double-image encryption algorithm is proposed, based on discrete fractional random transform and chaotic maps. The random matrices used in the discrete fractional random transform are generated by using a chaotic map. One of the two original images is scrambled by using another chaotic map, and then encoded into the phase of a complex matrix with the other original image as its amplitude. Then this complex matrix is encrypted by the discrete fractional random transform. By applying the correct keys which consist of initial values, control parameters, and truncated positions of the chaotic maps, and fractional orders, the two original images can be recovered without cross-talk. Numerical simulation has been performed to test the validity and the security of the proposed encryption algorithm. Encrypting two images together by this algorithm creates only one encrypted image, whereas other single-image encryption methods create two encrypted images. Furthermore, this algorithm requires neither the use of phase keys nor the use of matrix keys. In this sense, this algorithm can raise the efficiency when encrypting, storing or transmitting.     

Statistical tests and chaotic synchronization based pseudorandom number generator for string bit sequences with application to image encryption

Recently, a stream encryption scheme using d-bit segment sequences has been proposed. This scheme may generate key avalanche effect. The randomness tests of d-bit segment pseudorandom number generator will be important for implementing such a scheme. Firstly this paper extends Beker and Piper’s binary pseudorandom sequence statistical test suite to d-bit segment sequences case. Secondly, a novel 3-dimensional polynomial discrete chaotic map (3DPDCM) is proposed. The calculated Lyapunov exponents of the 3DPCDM are 0.213, 0.125 and ? 3.228. Using the 3DPDCM constructs a 6-dimensional generalized synchronization chaotic system. Based on this system, a 8-bit segment chaotic pseudorandom number generator (CPRNG) is introduced. Using the generalized test suite tests 100 key streams generated via the 8-bit PRNG with different initial conditions and perturbed system parameters. The tested results are similar to those of the key streams generated via RC4 PRNG. As an application, using the key streams generated via the CPRNG and the RC4 PRNG encrypts an RGB image Landscape. The results have shown that the encrypted RGB images have significant avalanche effects. This research suggests that the requirements for PRNGs are not as strict as those under the traditional avalanche criteria. Suitable designed chaos-based d-bit string PRNGs may be qualified candidates for the stream encryption scheme with avalanche effect.     

Secret Communication Systems Using Chaotic Wave Equations with Neural Network Boundary Conditions

In a secret communication system using chaotic synchronization, the communication information is embedded in a signal that behaves as chaos and is sent to the receiver to retrieve the information. In a previous study, a chaotic synchronous system was developed by integrating the wave equation with the van der Pol boundary condition, of which the number of the parameters are only three, which is not enough for security. In this study, we replace the nonlinear boundary condition with an artificial neural network, thereby making the transmitted information difficult to leak. The neural network is divided into two parts; the first half is used as the left boundary condition of the wave equation and the second half is used as that on the right boundary, thus replacing the original nonlinear boundary condition. We also show the results for both monochrome and color images and evaluate the security performance. In particular, it is shown that the encrypted images are almost identical regardless of the input images. The learning performance of the neural network is also investigated. The calculated Lyapunov exponent shows that the learned neural network causes some chaotic vibration effect. The information in the original image is completely invisible when viewed through the image obtained after being concealed by the proposed system. Some security tests are also performed. The proposed method is designed in such a way that the transmitted images are encrypted into almost identical images of waves, thereby preventing the retrieval of information from the original image. The numerical results show that the encrypted images are certainly almost identical, which supports the security of the proposed method. Some security tests are also performed. The proposed method is designed in such a way that the transmitted images are encrypted into almost identical images of waves, thereby preventing the retrieval of information from the original image. The numerical results show that the encrypted images are certainly almost identical, which supports the security of the proposed method.     

An algorithm for encryption of secret images into meaningful images

Image encryption algorithms typically transform a plain image into a noise-like cipher image, whose appearance is an indication of encrypted content. Bao and Zhou [Image encryption: Generating visually meaningful encrypted images, Information Sciences 324, 2015] propose encrypting the plain image into a visually meaningful cover image. This improves security by masking existence of encrypted content. Following their approach, we propose a lossless visually meaningful image encryption scheme which improves Bao and Zhou's algorithm by making the encrypted content, i.e. distortions to the cover image, more difficult to detect. Empirical results are presented to show high quality of the resulting images and high security of the proposed algorithm. Competence of the proposed scheme is further demonstrated by means of comparison with Bao and Zhou's scheme.     

Visual Secure Image Encryption Scheme Based on Compressed Sensing and Regional Energy

The network security transmission of digital images needs to solve the dual security problems of content and appearance. In this paper, a visually secure image compression and encryption scheme is proposed by combining compressed sensing (CS) and regional energy. The plain image is compressed and encrypted into a secret image by CS and zigzag confusion. Then, according to the regional energy, the secret image is embedded into a carrier image to obtain the final visual secure cipher image. A method of hour hand printing (HHP) scrambling is proposed to increase the pixel irrelevance. Regional energy embedding reduce the damage to the visual quality of carrier image, and the different embedding positions between images greatly enhances the security of the encryption algorithm. Furthermore, the hyperchaotic multi-character system (MCS) is utilized to construct measurement matrix and control pixels. Simulation results and security analyses demonstrate the effectiveness, security and robustness of the propose algorithm.     

Multi-frame blind deconvolution using sparse priors

In this paper, we propose a method for multi-frame blind deconvolution. Two sparse priors, i.e., the natural image gradient prior and an l₁-norm based prior are used to regularize the latent image and point spread functions (PSFs) respectively. An alternating minimization approach is adopted to solve the resulted optimization problem. We use both gray scale blurred frames from a data set and some colored ones which are captured by a digital camera to verify the robustness of our approach. Experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately reconstruct PSFs with complex structures and the restored images are of high quality.     

Single frame blind image deconvolution by non-negative sparse matrix factorization

Novel approach to single frame multichannel blind image deconvolution has been formulated recently as non-negative matrix factorization problem with sparseness constraints imposed on the unknown mixing vector that accounts for the case of non-sparse source image. Unlike most of the blind image deconvolution algorithms, the novel approach assumed no a priori knowledge about the blurring kernel and original image. Our contributions in this paper are: (i) we have formulated generalized non-negative matrix factorization approach to blind image deconvolution with sparseness constraints imposed on either unknown mixing vector or unknown source image; (ii) the criteria are established to distinguish whether unknown source image was sparse or not as well as to estimate appropriate sparseness constraint from degraded image itself, thus making the proposed approach completely unsupervised; (iii) an extensive experimental performance evaluation of the non-negative matrix factorization algorithm is presented on the images degraded by the blur caused by the photon sieve, out-of-focus blur with sparse and non-sparse images and blur caused by atmospheric turbulence. The algorithm is compared with the state-of-the-art single frame blind image deconvolution algorithms such as blind Richardson-Lucy algorithm and single frame multichannel independent component analysis based algorithm and non-blind image restoration algorithms such as multiplicative algebraic restoration technique and Van-Cittert algorithms. It has been experimentally demonstrated that proposed algorithm outperforms mentioned non-blind and blind image deconvolution methods.     

Double image encryption based on discrete multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform and chaotic maps

A double image encryption method is proposed by utilizing discrete multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform and chaotic maps. One of the two original images scrambled by one chaotic map is encoded into the amplitude of a complex signal with the other original image as its phase. The complex signal multiplied by another chaotic random phase mask is then encrypted by discrete multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform. The parameters in chaotic map and discrete multiple-parameter fractional Fourier transform serve as the keys of this encryption scheme. Numerical simulations have been done to demonstrate the performance of this algorithm.     

Image sharing scheme based on combination theory

We present a simple algorithm for sharing and hiding secret image based on combination theory. The secret image is firstly encrypted by matrix multiplications and then shared into many shadow images by multiplying binary random sampling matrices. The sampling matrices randomly assign the pixel values to the shadow images which satisfy a specific combination rule as a constrain, so that the (t, n) threshold secret sharing scheme can be implemented. Numerical experiments have demonstrated the effectiveness of this image sharing algorithm.     

Multiple information encryption by user-image-based gyrator transform hologram

A novel multiple information encryption by user-image-based gyrator transform hologram is proposed. In encryption process, each channel of the user image is phase encoded, modulated by random phase function and then gyrator transformed to get the gyrator spectrum of user image. Subsequently, each channel of the secret image is normalized, phase encoded, multiplied by modulated user image, and then gyrator transformed to obtain the gyrator spectrum of secret image. The encrypted digital hologram is recorded by the interference between the gyrator spectrum of user image and the spherical wave function. Similarly, the digital hologram for decryption is recorded by the interference between the gyrator spectrum of secret image and the spherical wave function. The multiple encrypted digital holograms are multiplexed into a final encoded hologram and the corresponding digital holograms for decryption are multiplexed into a final hologram for decryption. The wavelength and radius of the spherical wave function, and angle of gyrator transform are all essential keys for decryption. The proposed system has two main features. First, the encrypted hologram has no information about secret image. Second, the hologram for decryption used as identification key. Consequently the two marked security layers of information protection are achieved. The proposal can be realized by optoelectronic system. Numerical simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and security of the proposed technique.     

Quantum Color Image Encryption Algorithm Based on A Hyper-Chaotic System and Quantum Fourier Transform

To improve the slow processing speed of the classical image encryption algorithms and enhance the security of the private color images, a new quantum color image encryption algorithm based on a hyper-chaotic system is proposed, in which the sequences generated by the Chen’s hyper-chaotic system are scrambled and diffused with three components of the original color image. Sequentially, the quantum Fourier transform is exploited to fulfill the encryption. Numerical simulations show that the presented quantum color image encryption algorithm possesses large key space to resist illegal attacks, sensitive dependence on initial keys, uniform distribution of gray values for the encrypted image and weak correlation between two adjacent pixels in the cipher-image.