Comparative analysis of integer wavelet transforms in reversible data hiding using threshold based histogram modification

In the secured data communication scenario, image based Reversible Data Hiding (RDH) at transform domain is receiving its due popularity now. In research works so far, evaluation of transforms in RDH is very minor compared to that of image coding. Since both the areas deal primarily with integers, the present study takes an appreciable step forward by investigating the utilization of integer-to-integer wavelet transforms that have reversibility, which helped in developing high capacity and robust RDH algorithms. The proposed investigation tends to bridge gaps in the area of data hiding with the available coding transforms. In this work, integer wavelet transforms like Haar, 5/3, 2/6, 9/7-M, 2/10, 5/11-C, 5/11-A, 6/14, 13/7-T, 13/7-C and 9/7-F are evaluated using a generalized threshold-based histogram shifting technique. This work compares the performance of all integer wavelet transforms and other state of the art techniques with respect to their embedding capacity and image visual quality. This analysis leads to a better understanding of the relationship between the embedding capacity and the stego image quality whenever different wavelets were utilized.