Minimum-Distortion Data Embedding in Video Streams

We investigate the problem of embedding data in raw video sequences with minimum video mean-square distortion for any required data recovery error rate. In particular, for any given video frame sequence and any (block) transform domain of interest, we find the optimal carrier and scalar parametrized linear operator on the video data that maximize the output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of the maximum-SINR data receiver filter or, equivalently, minimize the average embedding distortion for any target message extraction error rate. The procedure is extended from single-carrier to multi-carrier (multiple messages) embedding. As a practical consideration, a sub-optimal computationally efficient embedding algorithm is also proposed. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that sub-optimal embedding as described has video distortion versus data extraction error rate performance comparable to optimal embedding. Our studies also demonstrate the robustness of the optimal (and sub-optimal) embedding schemes to H.264 compliant encoding.