Scrambled Image Embedding Using Wavelet Transform for Secure Data Transmission

Abstract

This study introduces a method for embedding an image into a video using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and secure data handling techniques. The process begins by preprocessing the image, where its Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) channels are separated, flattened into one-dimensional streams, and divided into fixed-size blocks. The video frames are processed in parallel, with image data embedded into the high-frequency coefficients (HH2) of a two-level DWT. The embedding process employs scrambling and key encoding to enhance security, resulting in a robust integration of image data into the video stream. For evaluation, the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is calculated to measure the quality of the reconstruction. The retrieved image achieves an SNR of **31.9 dB**, demonstrating high fidelity to the original image. Meanwhile, the modified video maintains an SNR per frame ranging from **36.7 dB to 40.5 dB**, indicating minimal perceptual degradation across all embedded frames and preserving video quality. This method demonstrates a secure and efficient approach to image embedding and retrieval, with potential applications in steganography, watermarking, and multimedia security.