Optimum watermark detection and embedding in digital images

This work concentrates on the problem of watermarking of still images using the luminance component, through the use of spread spectrum techniques, both in space (direct sequence spread spectrum or DSSS) and frequency (frequency hopping or FH), following the guidelines of Delaigle et al. (1998). The system described is able to embed watermarks and recover them with zero probability of error. The problem is faced from a statistical detection point of view through the analysis of the density function of the image to be marked. A Cauchy model is found to be very accurate and some tests are performed in order to assess improved detection quality. The resulting system turns out to be easy to encrypt and very robust to filtering and JPEG compression