Method and apparatus for embedding and extracting digital watermarking for numerical data

An apparatus for embedding a digital watermark into a numerical data set, the numerical data set for distribution to a plurality of recipients, the apparatus including a processor and a memory storing machine executable instructions thereon, the machine executable instructions, when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to be configured to:

• select portions of the numerical data set identified as data noise, the selected portions to be used for embedding the digital watermark into the numerical data set, the digital watermark being unique for each of the plurality of recipients;
• replace the least significant bit (LSB) of at least some of the selected portions of the numerical data set with at least a portion of the digital watermark;
• evaluate feasibility of each column of the numerical data set for embedding the digital watermark;
• and
• select columns of the numerical data set feasible for embedding the digital watermark based on the evaluation.

A method for extracting a digital watermark from a digitally watermarked numerical data set, the numerical data set distributed to a plurality of recipients, the method comprising:

• selecting portions of the digitally watermarked numerical data set identified as data noise, the selected portions to be used for extracting the digital watermark from the digitally watermarked numerical data set, the digital watermark being unique for each of the plurality of recipients;
• extracting at least a portion of the digital watermark from a least significant bit (LSB) of the selected portions of the digitally watermarked numerical data set;
• evaluating a feasibility of each column of the digitally watermarked data set for including at least a portion of the digital watermark;
• and
• selecting columns of the digitally watermarked data set feasible for including at least a portion of the digital watermark based on the evaluation.

An apparatus for extracting a digital watermark into a numerical data set, the numerical data set distributed to a plurality of recipients, the apparatus including a processor and a memory storing machine executable instructions thereon, the machine executable instructions, when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to be configured to:

• select portions of the digitally watermarked numerical data set identified as data noise, the selected portions to be used for extracting the digital watermark from the digitally watermarked numerical data set, the digital watermark being unique for each of the plurality of recipients;
• extract at least a portion of the digital watermark from a least significant bit (LSB) of the selected portions of the digitally watermarked numerical data set;
• evaluate a feasibility of each column of the digitally watermarked data set for including at least a portion of the digital watermark;
• and
• select columns of the digitally watermarked data set feasible for including at least a portion of the digital watermark based on the evaluation.