An image zero-watermarking algorithm based on the encryption of visual map feature with watermark information

We propose a new image zero-watermarking scheme based on the encryption of visual map feature (VMF) and permuted visual map feature (PVMF) of the original image with watermark information. To resist strong attacks, we employ the robust feature extracted from the host image by using the combination of QR decomposition and 1D-DCT. Since the feature extracted from the host image presents the coarse part of the host image, we call it VMF. For enhancing the security of VMF, we apply the permutation method on VMF based on the Torus permutation to obtain PVMF. We construct a new method of image zero-watermarking by the encryption of VMF and PVMF with copyright data, and then generate the master share and the ownership share. The master share is generated by comparison of two consecutive DC coefficients after the QR decomposition is applied. The ownership share is generated by encryption of the master share with copyright data. Experimental results show that the proposed method is robust against common processing and geometric attacks with low consuming time. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.