VQ-Based Image Embedding Scheme Using Adaptive Codeword Grouping Strategy

In this paper, we propose an adaptive embedding algorithm for VQ-compressed images. Adjusting the predefined distance threshold according to the required image visual quality, the proposed algorithm-which is designed as a codeword arrangement strategy-clusters a number of similar codewords together such that a codeword in a group can embed a sub-message while preserving embedding capacity and achieving high image quality. Compared with Lin et al´s scheme, the experimental results show that the embedding capacity for test images is obviously superior while the recycling strategy is applied, and the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of image quality is higher in most cases; therefore, the proposed scheme is able to embed the information more effectively and efficiently.