Digital color image encoding and decoding using a novel chaotic random generator

This paper proposes a novel chaotic system, in which variables are treated as encryption keys in order to achieve secure transmission of digital color images. Since the dynamic response of chaotic system is highly sensitive to the initial values of a system and to the variation of a parameter, and chaotic trajectory is so unpredictable, we use elements of variables as encryption keys and apply these to computer internet communication of digital color images. As a result, we obtain much higher communication security. We adopt one statistic method involving correlation coefficient gamma and FIPS PUB 140-1 to test on the distribution of distinguished elements of variables for continuous-time chaotic system, and accordingly select optimal encryption keys to use in secure communication of digital color images. At the transmitter end, we conduct RGB level decomposition on digital color images, and encrypt them with chaotic keys, and finally transmit them through computer internet. The same encryption keys are used to decrypt and recover the original images at the receiver end. Even if the encrypted images are stolen in the public channel, an intruder is not able to decrypt and recover the original images because of the lack of adequate encryption keys. Empirical example shows that the chaotic system and encryption keys applied in the encryption, transmission, decryption, and recovery of digital color images can achieve higher communication security and best recovered images. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.