Reversible and high-payload image steganographic scheme based on side-match vector quantization

A reversible and high-payload image steganographic scheme implemented in the SMVQ compression domain of image is proposed. This scheme focuses both on the payload of the compressed cover image at the transmitter and on the visual quality of the restored cover image at the receiver. In addition, keeping an acceptable bit rate for the cover image is another goal of the proposed scheme since the secret data are sheltered by and delivered through the compression codes. Moreover, the proposed scheme is reversible. The original SMVQ-compressed cover image can be losslessly restored from the compression codes at the receiver. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is feasible for secret communication. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.