A Chaos-based Visual Encryption Mechanism in
Integrated ECG/EEG Medical Signals
Chin-Feng Lin , Member, IEEE,
Abstract In this paper, we have developed a chaos-based visual
encryption mechanism which can be applied in the integrated
electrocardiogram (ECG)/ electroencephalography (EEG)
medical signals. A main idea for using chaos sequence is to
increase the un-predication compared with other kind of random
sequences. Thus, we based on a values mapping of ID chaotic
scrambler and a permutation scheme to achieve integrated
ECG/EEG visual encryption. A way to realize the visual
encryption mechanism is to scramble the signal values of the input
integrated ECG/EEG signal by multiplying ID chaotic signal to
randomize integrated ECG/EEG signal values, and then a chaotic
address scanning order encryption is applied to the randomize
reference values. Simulation results show when correct
deciphering parameters are put in, the signal will be completely
recovered, and the percent root-mean-square Difference (PRD)
values are 4.69x10 15% and 4.33x10-15 % for ECG and
EEG medical signals, respectively. As long as there is an input
parameter error, for example, with 0.00000001% initial point
error, it could make chaotic array, and the ECG and EEG medical
signals will not be recovered back.
Index Terms chaos, visual encryption, ECG /EEG medical
signals.
I. Introduction
Wte adopts high speed and robust advanced wireless
communication system to achieve ubiquitous emergent
or health-monitoring medical services at any time and
any where [1][2]. Transmission information is confidential
information for patients. Encryption is an essential mechanism
to keep confidential. The current method to do this is to encrypt
the names of patients, instead of encrypt transmission medical
signal. This method of encryption has the advantage of a fast
encryption speed and low complication. However, its
robustness is not strong enough. In order to increase robustness
for encryption, we apply a chaos-based unequal encryption
mechanism to wireless telemedicine. Chaos theory with
excellent unpredictability is suitably used in encryption system
[3-5]. It is a new and interesting research topics for real time
encryption, such as audio and video signals [6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14].
The performance of chaos-based visual encryption mechanism
that apply in JPEG2000 X-ray and electrocardiogram (ECG)
medical signals, has been scrupulously studied in our earlier
work [10-15]. In this paper, we further consider a chaos-based
visual
ISBN 978-89-5519-136-3 -1 903-
and Cheng-Hsing Chung
encryption mechanism to be applied to the integrated
ECG/electroencephalography (EEG) medical signals. A main
idea for using chaos sequence is to increase the un-predication
compared with other kinds of random sequences. We achieve
integrated ECG/EEG visual encryption based on values resulting from
mapping of ID chaotic scrambler and a permutation scheme. A way
to realize the visual encryption mechanism is to scramble the
values of the input integrated ECG/EEG medical signals by
multiplying ID chaotic signal to randomize integrated
ECG/EEG medical signal values, and then a chaotic address
scanning order encryption is applied to the randomize reference
values. Simulation results show when correct deciphering
parameters are put in, the signal will be completely recovered,
and the percent root-mean-square Difference (PRD) values are
4.69x10 '5 % and 4.33x10 '5 % for ECG and EEG
medical signals, respectively. As long as there is an input
parameter error, for example, with 0.00000001% initial point
error, it could make chaotic array, and the ECG and EEG
medical signals will not be recovered back.
II. ID Chaotic Integrated ECG/EEG Medical Signal
Scramble
A ID chaotic integrated ECG/EEG medical signal
scrambler have been developed to achieve secure medical
communication as shown in Fig. 1. The basic concept ofthe ID
chaotic medical signal scrambler is to generate a 1D random
value based on chaotic theory. That is, the original integrated
ECG/EEG medical signal is multiplied by a ID chaotic random
signal to achieve visual encryption effect. Thus, the original
integrated ECG/EEG medical signal will not show a patient's
medical information. This makes the integrated ECG/EEG
signal unreadable. The procedure to generate the ID chaotic
random values is described in the following. First, generate the
index address that is required for each chaotic candidate random
value by using chaotic index address assignment process
denoted as FCL4. Use a chaotic candidate point generator
denoted as Gc, to generate the corresponding random value. In
other words, generate a sequence of chaotic numbers with a
finite length based on a chaotic candidate point generator Gccs.
Then, find out the corresponding value in the sequence based on
the address value generated by the chaotic index address
assignment process FCL as the random value and use these
chaotic random values to scramble the original integrated
ECG/EEG signal. The
Feb. 17-20, 2008 ICACT 2008
 T-
IPF CX * chaotic sequence C
,.SSS.................... ...........i

w~~~~~-
w t F E dthese 1-i lcl
dis'ai
* I4 pl:l~~~~1)iiltS

LF
Iimiti al point foir i9 e 1 and

IF X > disc ar d tlhese pint

d oii t =n
else m -ii

No inComparison betweenl}3 an d the previou% tk

- j I

i =4+1 df mn = Ut{L j 14 s1sxa rd1;

Yes g0w j=j+l gg g mc

...................................... ...,.............................
.. ............. ..... ...

g g. m, g . chaotic signal

Fig. 1 The proposed ID chaotic integrated ECG/EEG medical signal scrambler

encryption procedure can be described as E(P,K)=C, where P is If m E {mk J < k < j- }, then discard this point and go
the original signal, E is the encryption algorithm, K is the to step 2; Otherwise do the following step.
encryption key, and C is the scrambled signal. Our chaotic index Step 5: If j > LF, terminate the procedure and output m
address assignment process, F is described in the following:
1 < j < LF.
Step 0: Select chaotic logistic map type CMTF of FCL. There In addition, a procedure for chaotic candidate point
are many kinds of chaotic logistic map type described generator GCC is described as follows:
in [8]. Step 0: Select chaotic logistic map type CMTG of GCCS
Step 1: Input SPF,LF,nF,6F where SPF is the starting point Step 1: inputs SPG, where is the starting point of GCCS
of F , LF is the length of in the input integrated Step 2: Generate a sequence of chaotic numbers with a
ECG/EEG medical signal, nF is the number of finite length of mc by performing the iterative
discarded initial chaotic index points and 3F is the
algorithm x = cMATG(xn _),(3) xO = SPG XO = SPCCS]C%
level of security.
< n <mc
Step 2: (a) If F > 1, then terminate the procedure;
otherwise do the following steps Step 3: Output x, < n < mc
(b) Set x0 = SPF. Thus, the procedure for ID chaotic ECG signal scrambler is
(c) Generate nF chaotic points: summarized as follows:
Xn = CMTF (Xn-1 ) ( 1) Step 1: [Generate chaotic index address sequence]
and then discard those points (a)1 < j < LF, m EN FCIA {ml,...*, mL ->N (3)
Step 3: (a) x" + = CMTF (X,f ) (b) mc = maximum index address=
(b) If x > 'F then discard this point and go to step 2; maxm
otherwise do the following step. 1<j<LF
Step 2: [ Generate chaotic candidate points in stage 1]
(c)m (2) Generate a chaotic candidate point sequence with a finite
n+ 1

where the initial value for index j is 1, length of mC by performing GCC : Xn , 1 < n < m-
andj j+1; Step 3 [Generate chaotic random scramble signal]
Step 4:Compare m1 with previous mk, 1 < k <j 1] G(i) = xm (4)
1 <li<LF, xm = Gccs :x n =m

ISBN 978-89-5519-136-3 -1 904- Feb. 17-20, 2008 ICACT 2008

Then the original ECG medical signal is multiplied the ID
chaotic random scramble signal to achieve visual encryption.
III. A Chaotic Scanning Order Encryption Mechanism for
Integrated ECG/EEG Medical Signals
A chaotic permutation in integrated ECG/EEG medical
signal locations is used to increase secure ECG/EEG
communication. It is similar to chaotic index address
assignment FCL4 and is described as follow. By using chaotic
permutation process, those orders are scanned. Then those
orders are re-scanning via chaotic de-permutation to reconstruct
LF ECG/EEG medical signal in the receiver. The chaotic
permutation a process FCP is described as follows:
Step 0: Select chaotic logistic map type CMIT of FCP.
Step 1: inputs SPF and LF
Where SPF is the starting point of FC4. LF is the
length of in the input ECG/EEG medical signal
Step 2: x0 = SP2
Step 3: (a) Generate a chaotic address index corresponding to
Ij",l<j<LF:
X, =
CMTFC, (X,-l) (5)
mi <- Fl/x
If mi > LF
J discard m , and go to setp 2. Otherwise do
the following step.
Step 4:[Comparson between mn and the previous mk
I<mk <j -]
If mi C mk J < k < j-1, then discard this point and go to
step 2. Otherwise do the following step.
Step 5: If j > LF, terminate the procedure and then output mi,
I<1 < LF. Otherwise do the following steps.
(a) n*-n+l
(b) j<ej+l
(c) go to step2
IV. Simulation Results
The original integrated ECG/EEG medical signal is multiplied
by the 1D chaotic random scrambled signal to achieve visual
encryption. In addition, a chaotic permutation in integrated
ECG/EEG medical signal locations is used to enhance the
security of integrated ECG/EEG communication. It is similar to
chaotic index address assignment FCL . By using chaotic
permutation process, those orders are scanned and re-scanned
via chaotic de-permutation to reconstruct LF integrated
ECG/EEG medical signal in the receiver. The 360 samples/sec
ECG signal and 256 samples/sec EEG signal are up-sampled to
perform a 720 samples/sec integrated ECG/EEG signal as
shown in Fig. 2. A two-layer highest security chaotic Visual
Encryption mechanism is applied to the ECG medical signal.
This two-layer security protection mechanism includes: (1) ID
chaotic random value scrambler and (2) chaotic integrated
ISBN 978-89-5519-136-3 -1 905-
ECG/EEG signal address scanning order encryption. The
design parameters and performance verification are described
as follows. The parameters 6F is 0.1 for input integrated
ECG/EEG medical signal with higher security, nF is equal
to 106 . CMTF , CMTG , and CMTF have the same simple
chaotic map C(x, r) given by
C(x,r) =rx(1 -x), O<x<1. (6)
The recursive formula is expressed as
rxn (1 Xn ) (7)
Xn+l =::::
where the starting point x, =SP SPG = SPF is equal to 0.1. Fig.
3 shows the case that when correct deciphering parameters are
used, the ECG signal will be completely recovered, and the
percent root-mean-square Difference (PRD) values are
4.69 x 10 l' % as well as the EEG signal will be completely
recovered, and the PRD value is 4.33 x -15 % in Fig 4 For
ECG and EEG medical signals. The PRD value is defined as
L
(Xori (i))2
(i) - Xrec
PRD = I00 x i=l % (8)
L
Where Xori (i) is original ECG or EEG medical signal and
Xrec (i) is the decrypted received ECG or EEG medical signal.
Fig.5 and Fig.6 show the decrypted received image for an
attacker who has chaotic keys with 0.00000001% error in their
starting points, respectively. These signals will not be recovered
back and are not suitable for medicine.
V. Conclusion
In this paper, we have developed a new integrated ECG/EEG
medical signal vision encryption mechanism based on theory of
chaos. Simulation result shows that the integrated ECG/EEG
medical signal visual encryption mechanism is very superior
and has a slight error in the chaotic key leads to exponentially
increasing errors in the decrypted data and in the encryption
process, ECG and EEG medical signals are very little distorted.
It is difficult that an attacker who has several accurate
decryption functions at the same time. As long as there is an
input parameter error, for example, with 0.00000001% initial
point error, it could make chaotic array, and the ECG and EEG
medical signals will not be recovered back.
Feb. 17-20, 2008 ICACT 2008
References [15] C. F. Lin, C. H. Chung, Z. L. Chen, C. J. Song, and Z.
X. Wang, "A Chaos Based Unequal Encryption
[1] Cypher D., Chevrollier N., Montavont N., and Golmie N., Mechanism in Mobile Medicine System, "Proceedings of
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[2] Cabral J. E. and Kim Y., "Multimedia Systems for
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IEEE Commun. Magazine, pp.20-27, 1996. 15
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[3] Ming Yang, Nikolaos Bourbakis and Shujun Li, "Data,
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[4] M. Naor and A. Shamir, "Visual Cryptography," Advances
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pp. 1-12. (m54S.q')
[5] Ljupco Kocarev, "Chaos-Based Cryptography: A Brief
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[6] Tang, K. W. ,"A Chaos-based Secure Voice
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[7] Rao K. D. , "A Robust and Secure Scheme for Image 1.5
Communication Over Wireless Channels," IEEE 7th CAS
0.5
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Systems for 4G mobile Communication, 2005. -0.5
[8] M. Gotz, K. Kelber and W. Schwarz, "Discrete-time chaotic -1
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vol.44, no.10, pp.963-970, Oct., 1997. (is)
[9] Fethi Belkhouche, Uvais Qidwai, Ibrahim Gokcen, Dale
Joachim, "Binary Image Transformation Using
Two-Dimensional Chaotic Maps," Proceedings of the Fig. 3 When correct deciphering parameters are put in, the ECG
17th International Conference on Pattern Recognition signal willbecompletelyrecovered. (PRD=4.69 x 0-15 %)
(ICPR '04)
[10] C. F. Lin, W. T. Chang, and C. Y. Li," A Chaos Base
Visual Encryption Mechanism in JPEG2000 Medical
Image," ITC-CSCC2005 International Technical
Conference On Circuitsl Systems, Computers and
Communications, pp.1301 1302. 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
[11] C. F.Lin, W. T. Chang and C. Y. Li ," A Chaos Base (rns)
Visual Encryption Mechanism in JPEG2000 Medical
Image," ITC-CSCC International Technical Conference
On Circuits Systems, Computers and Communications
2005, pp.1301 1302. Fig. 4 When correct deciphering parameters are put in, the ECG
[12] C. F. Lin, W. T. Chang, and C. Y. Li," Design of A Chaos signal will be completely recovered. (PRD= 4.33 x 1 0-l' %)
Base Visual Encryption Mechanism in JPEG2000
Medical Image," IEEE ICSS2005 International 2.5
Conference On Systems & Signals, pp.277-282. 2
[13] C. F. Lin and C. S. Chung, "A Chaos Base Visual 1.5
Encryption Mechanism in ECG Medical Signal, "World 05
Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical
Engineering 2006, pp.2250 2253.
( 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
[14] C. F. Lin, W. T. Chang, and C. Y. Li," A Chaos-based
Visual Encryption Mechanism in JPEG2000 Medical Fig.5 Decrypted received image iran attacker who has chaotic
Images," J. ofMedical and Biological Engineering, 27(3), keys withO.00000001% error in their starting points, and the
pp.144-149, 2007. ECG medical signal will not be recovered back.

ISBN 978-89-5519-136-3 -1906- Feb. 17-20, 2008 ICACT 2008

 15
10-

(my)150 D"i I t,J

-5

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
0--PS)

Fig.6 Decrypted received image for an attacker who has chaotic

keys withO.00000001% error in their starting points, and the
EEG medical signal will not be recovered back.

Chin-Feng Lin with National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan

EBmail: lcf1O24@mail.ntou.edu.tw

ISBN 978-89-5519-136-3 -1907- Feb. 17-20, 2008 ICACT 2008