Lightweight Reversible Data Hiding System for Microcontrollers Using Integer Reversible Meixner Transform

Abstract

In the realm of secure data communication, reversible data hiding (RDH) has emerged as a promising strategy to ensure both confidentiality and integrity. However, in resource-constrained environments, such as microcontroller platforms, conventional RDH techniques encounter challenges due to factors like minimal memory resources and speed, which restrict the use of microcontrollers for implementing image RDH. Addressing this gap, we introduce a lightweight RDH system tailored for microcontrollers, employing the integer reversible Meixner transform (IRMMT), a variant of the Meixner moment transform optimised for integer operations. Unlike its floating-point version, IRMMT ensures complete preservation of data, even with the use of low finite precision arithmetic, thereby demonstrating its efficacy for lossless applications and its suitability for resource-limited embedded devices. Leveraging IRMMT, we propose a novel RDH algorithm designed to operate efficiently within the limitations of microcontroller resources while preserving image quality and integrity. The algorithm is implemented and evaluated on the Arduino Due board, which features the AT91SAM3X8E 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller, demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach in enabling secure wireless data communication. Through theoretical formulation, algorithm design and embedded implementation, this paper contributes to advancing RDH methodologies for resource-limited embedded devices.