Context pixel-based reversible data hiding scheme using pixel value ordering

Pixel value ordering (PVO) and prediction error expansion (PEE) techniques are now being combined for improved performance in the domain of reversible data hiding (RDH). Conventional PVO can only embed two data bits in a smooth picture block in a row or column, which is insufficient to meet the contemporary demands of much payload in RDH. There is a lot of room to enhance the bit stuffing by inserting more than two data bits in a smooth block while maintaining acceptable visual image quality and data security. In this study, we suggest a context pixel-based data concealing strategy based on PVO combined with PEE, in which each block can insert two or more data bits. This proposed approach has three distinct features: smooth block selection, minimum and maximum position selection, and pixel difference with median value for data embedding. Furthermore, more than two pixels can be used to embed the secret data bit. The block is recommended by the selection of the neighbouring and present block’s pixel. The use of context pixels in context pixel-based PVO (CPPVO) improves both embedding efficiency and picture quality. When the block size is Z=(3×3)\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$Z=(3\times 3)$$\end{document}, the average embedding capacity (EC) of our novel approach is over 70,000 bits, and the average PSNR is over 40 dB. The results of the experiments reveal that our technique is more dependable than other state-of-the-art systems in terms of security, picture quality, and secret volume.