Multilayer Morton Code blended portable network graphics encoding method for secured lossless image storage in cloud environments using visual cryptography
摘要
A secure and lossless visual cryptography work, termed Multilayer Morton Code blended Portable Network Graphics Encoding Method (MMCPNG), is proposed to address the growing demand for confidentiality-preserving and fidelity-retentive image processing techniques. MMCPNG work is architected through the integration of three novel modules: the User-defined Sensitivity Enforced Layer Calculator, which systematically segregates image data based on predefined sensitivity levels to enable hierarchical security; the Multilayer Morton Code PNG Encoder, which applies spatial-preserving Morton code transformations to enhance structural encoding within the Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format; and the Sporadic Selective Pixel Compression Algorithm, designed to execute targeted compression on non-critical pixel regions, thereby optimizing storage while ensuring full lossless reconstruction. The MMCPNG methodology ensures robust visual encryption, precise sensitivity control, and efficient compression, positioning it as a viable solution for applications demanding high-security image handling, such as medical diagnostics, biometric authentication, and classified visual communications for cloud. Comprehensive performance evaluations were conducted, measuring processing time, energy efficiency, and security resilience under various operational conditions. Empirical evaluations confirm that the proposed MMCPNG offers significant improvements in computational efficiency and energy consumption without compromising operational security, validating its applicability for resource-constrained and mission-critical environments.