Watermarking as communications with side information

Abstract

Several authors have drawn comparison between embedded signaling or watermarking and communications, especially spread-spectrum communications. We examine the similarities and differences between watermarking and traditional communications. This comparison suggests that watermarking most closely resembles communications with side information at the transmitter and or detector, a configuration originally described by Shannon (1958). This leads to several novel characteristics and insights regarding embedded signaling which are discussed in detail.