Forbidden zone data hiding

A new blind data hiding method is proposed based on a novel concept of forbidden zone, where no alteration is allowed in a host signal during message embedding step. Depending on the desired probability of error, the range of the forbidden zone varies, as a compromise between robustness and embedding distortion. Hence, the proposed method makes use of this zone through a single control parameter in conjunction with modulating quantizers for message embedding. The superiority of the proposed scheme over QIM is presented theoretically, as well empirically via simulations. The method is further compared with DC-QIM and its weaknesses and strengths are stated.