A Quantum Image Watermarking Scheme Based on Quantum Hilbert Scrambling and Steganography about the Moiré Fringe

Abstract

In order to boost the security and confidentiality of information in quantum images, on the foundation of the NEQR model, a novel quantum watermarking scheme combining quantum Hilbert scrambling with steganography based on the Moiré fringe is designed in this paper. First of all, for carrier image, and watermark image, the color information and position information are denoted, respectively, by the NEQR model. Next, the watermark image is converted to a disordered image by quantum Hilbert scrambling, and the message of the original watermark image cannot be gained from the disordered image. At last, the watermark image after scrambling is embedded into the carrier image through the steganography of the Moiré fringe, obtaining the watermarked image. Due to the unitary image of the quantum gate, quantum Hilbert inverse scrambling is the opposite process of quantum Hilbert scrambling. In addition, the watermark image can be completely extracted from the watermarked image. What’s more, the experimental simulation and performance analysis of the scheme are done. The experimental simulation proves the feasibility of this algorithm. Visually, there is no difference between the carrier image and the watermarked image. The PSNR between the watermarked image and the carrier image is measured, which quantitatively shows the high similarity. In addition, the time complexity of the quantum circuit is lower than some other quantum image watermarking schemes, which proves the simplicity of this scheme.