Project Proposal - Watermarking

ECE 533 Fall 2006 

Matt Elliott Brian Schuette

For our project we propose to create an algorithm to insert, modify, or
extract watermarking from a given image.  This program would work
primarily on the concept of bit-slicing, inserting the watermark on the
lowest level bit plane, though other approaches will be investigated as
well.  We will provide an interface through Matlab for users to execute
the program.

We plan to focus on the robustness of the watermark, concerning
watermark attacks and standard changes to the image(morphing,
compression, enhancement).  We will research various drawbacks and
weaknesses in watermarks that are often exploited, and test our
watermarking techniques against them.  This data will allow us to
provide comparisons of the watermarks on their resistance to various
techniques, as well as the effect on the quality of the image
itself.

As part of this effort, we will create an algorithm to handle watermark
detection.  Not only will this allow us to extract or verify watermarks,
but it will help in quantifying the robustness data.  We can see how
much change an image can withstand while still registering as a valid
watermark, and which attacks cause it to fail.

For the interface, we will provide many options to the user, allowing
them to pick images to modify and use as watermarks.  We will also allow
the user to choose the method they would like to implement the
watermarking (ie time bit plane slicing, freq bit plane slicing, etc),
and provide a means of analysing its robustness.  We will also prepare a
means of comparison in which the relative effects of the attacks and
changes can be seen.