Multiple image encryption and watermarking by random phase matching

Usually a set of transmitted patterns can realize encryption and/or watermarking just for one hidden image. In this paper, we propose a novel method of multiple image encryption and watermarking by random phase matching, which can encrypt and then decrypt more than one image with the same set of transmitted patterns based on the idea of double phase encoding and the wave field superposition. The principle and procedure of this method are explained. A series of computer simulations with phase-shifting interferometry have shown that two or four independent images can be encrypted and decrypted without or with watermarking successfully with one set of composite interferograms. The ability of this method to retrieve hidden image(s) from part of the transmitted patterns has also been verified. This technique can considerably raise the efficiency of data transmission, and it is particularly suitable for the image transmission via Internet.