Patent Publication Number: US-2006020959-A1

Title: Apparatus and method of video decoding and outputting

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of video decoding and outputting in which parental information for viewing restriction is inserted into analog video signals.  
      2. Background Art  
      Conventionally well known is video decoding and outputting apparatus for inserting closed caption (CC) information in a vertical blanking interval (VBI) of analog video signals, for output. For example, as the reference of a related prior art, specifications of U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,370 are known.  
       FIG. 11  shows a digital broadcasting receiver, as a conventional video decoding and outputting apparatus. With reference to  FIG. 11 , digital broadcasting radio waves received by tuner  11  are demodulated into transport streams. The transport streams are restored to audio packets, video packets, and information data by TS decoder  12 . The audio packets are restored to audio data by audio decoder  13 . The video packets are restored to video data by video decoder  14 . Further, these data are converted into audio signals and video signals by audio video output part  15 , and thus the audio and video of a received program are supplied through a speaker and monitor. The information data from TS decoder  12  are fed into service information processing part  991 . Service information processing part  991  generates electronic program guide (EPG) data for displaying a program list from information data including information on service. EPG data are supplied to multiplexer (MUX)  22 , and combined with video data, responsive to an instruction from controller  19  realized by microcomputer or other components and so on. The CC information is included in the video data, and combined with video data in MUX  22 . Thus, users can view a program list and closed caption together with the program, responsive to their instruction via user input part  18 , for example. The video data supplied from MUX  22  are supplied to National Television System Committee (NTSC) encoder  31 . NTSC encoder  31  converts these video data into NTSC composite signals, i.e. analog video signals, for output. Further, into these NTSC composite signals, VBI inserter  32  inserts the CC information from video decoder  14  in a vertical blanking interval. Such NTSC composite signals with the CC information inserted therein are supplied from the conventional video decoding and outputting apparatus.  
      These analog NTSC composite signals are viewed by being connected to a monitor, or stored in recording equipment, e.g. a video cassette recorder (VCR) or DVD recorder and then viewed through a monitor afterwards.  
      However, in the conventional video decoding and outputting apparatus, only the CC information is inserted in a VBI of analog video, and parental information for viewing restriction, which is called V-CHIP, is not inserted therein. For this reason, when a program is stored in recording equipment, e.g. a VCR and DVD recorder, and viewed afterwards, the parent of an audience cannot place viewing restriction even if the video is harmful to minors, and a children audience may view a harmful video. In other words, when video signals supplied from an analog composite video output terminal or the like of such a conventional digital broadcasting receiver are viewed, the viewing restriction does not work effectively.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention aims to provide an apparatus and method of video decoding and outputting in which viewing restriction works effectively even when video signals supplied from an analog composite video output terminal or the like of a digital broadcasting receiver or the like are viewed or recorded.  
      To address this problem, a video decoding and outputting apparatus of the present invention includes: (a) a receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast, (b) a restoring means for restoring video data and information related to the video data from the digital broadcast received by the receiving means, (c) a viewing restriction information extracting means for extracting viewing restriction information from the related information restored by the restoring means, (d) video converting means for converting the video data restored by the restoring means into analog video signals, and (e) an outputting means for inserting the viewing restriction information extracted from the viewing restriction information extracting means into analog video signals converted by the video converting means, for output.  
      A video decoding and outputting method of the present invention converts video data restored from a received digital broadcast into analog composite video signals, for output. The method includes the steps of: (a) converting video data into analog composite video signals, (b) restoring an event information table (EIT) or a program map table (PMT) included in a transport stream in the digital broadcast, (c) extracting content_advisory_descriptor included in the EIT or the PMT, (d) extracting viewing restriction information included in the content_advisory_descriptor, (e) converting the viewing restriction information into viewing restriction information compliant with a video standard of analog video signals, and (f) inserting the converted viewing restriction information in a vertical blanking interval of the analog composite video signals, for output. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a structure of a video decoding and outputting apparatus in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a digital broadcasting system in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating each signals in a digital broadcast.  
       FIG. 4  is a drawing showing a structure of content_advisory_descriptor in a digital broadcast.  
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are tables showing details of data related to parental information in extended data service (XDS).  
       FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are tables showing further details in XDS.  
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing parental output processing in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a drawing showing a specific example of parental processing in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a structure of a video decoding and outputting apparatus in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a digital broadcasting system in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a drawing illustrating a structure of a conventional digital broadcasting receiver. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus and method of video decoding and outputting of the present invention are detailed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     First Exemplary Embodiment  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a video decoding and outputting apparatus in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A description is provided of an example of a digital broadcasting receiver, i.e. an embodiment of a video decoding and outputting apparatus of the present invention.  
      With reference to  FIG. 1 , tuner  11  performs demodulation, error correction, or the like on digital broadcasting radio waves received through an antenna or cable. Further, tuner  11  outputs transport streams, i.e. bit streams which consist of packets including various data in digital broadcasting. Tuner  11  is also instructed to receive an intended broadcast by controller  19 . Tuner  11  constitutes a receiving means.  
      Controller  19  is realized microcomputer, for example. Responsive to instruction information from user input part  18  for inputting instruction from user via a remote controller or the like, controller  19  controls tuner  11  to select a station, and also controls other respective components described later and performs processing for the control.  
      The transport streams from tuner  11  are supplied to transport stream decoder (hereinafter referred to as a TS decoder)  12 . TS decoder  12  extracts data of an intended program by packet from these transport streams, separates the data into video packets, audio packets, and information data related to the received broadcast and outputs them. The video packets, audio packets, and information data are supplied to video decoder  14 , audio decoder  13 , and service information processing part  21  as hereinafter described, respectively. TS decoder  12 , video decoder  14 , and audio decoder  13  constitute a restoring means.  
      Video decoder  14  extracts encoded video data compressed according to the motion pictures expert group (MPEG)- 2  system from the supplied video packets. Further, video decoder  14  expands the extracted encoded video data, and restores the video data. Thus, video decoder  14  performs video decoding. Then, the restored video data are fed into audio video output part  15  via EPG multiplexer (MUX)  22 , which is described later.  
      Audio decoder  13  decodes the supplied audio packets, and thus the audio data are restored. The restored audio data are also fed into audio video output part  15 .  
      Audio video output part  15  converts the video data supplied from EPG MUX  22  into video signals capable of being displayed on a monitor or the like, and drives a monitor inside or outside of the digital broadcasting receiver. Further, audio video output part  15  converts audio data supplied from audio decoder  13  into audio signals capable of being supplied to a speaker or the like, and drives a speaker inside or outside of a digital broadcasting receiver. Thus, the contents, e.g. video and audio, of the intended program are presented from a monitor and speaker, and a user can view desired contents. The monitor and speaker can be in the form of a television receiver integral with a digital broadcasting receiver. A set top box (STB) that is not integral with a monitor and speaker and externally connected thereto can be used. Alternatively can be used are a VCR or DVD device that are not integral with a monitor and speaker and are mainly for recording and reproducing the program.  
      On the other hand, the information data separated and extracted by TS decoder  12  is supplied to service information processing part  21  as described above. The information data includes information related to a program and reception thereof. The digital broadcasting receiver of this embodiment receives a program, provides service information of the program, or performs other operations, using this information. This service information includes the channel number of each program, the time when the program starts and ends, the title and genre of the program, and further includes CC information, parental information for viewing restriction, and other information as information related to video data. Service information processing part  21  extracts service information data from the information data separated by TS decoder  12 , and stores them in a memory (not shown) or the like for control.  
      Additionally, service information processing part  21  generates electronic program guide (EPG) data for displaying a program list from this information stored in the memory (not shown) or the like, and feeds the data to EPG MUX  22 . Responsive to the instruction of displaying the program list from controller  19 , EPG MUX  22  switches from the video data from video decoder  14  to the supplied EPG data or combines them, and outputs them to audio video output part  15 . Thus, a user can view a desired program list.  
      Further, service information processing part  21  exerts parental control, i.e. processing concerning viewing restriction, using parental information included in the service information from TS decoder  12 . The parental information is called “V-CHIP” in the United States. This is used to allow authorized users, e.g. parents, to individually block programs undesirable for their children to view. In the digital broadcasting, such parental information is stored in a program map table (PMT) having packet identifiers or the like stored therein, or an event information table (EIT) having service information or the like stored therein in the form of descriptors called “content_advisory_descriptor”. Content_advisory_descriptor” also includes rating information which specifies respective levels of viewing restrictions, e.g. the ages for viewing restrictions. Specifically, respective programs are divided into a group of programs which can be viewed irrespective of age, a group of programs which can be viewed by audiences of at least 13 years old, and so on.  
      A digital broadcasting receiver generally performs the following operations according to such parental information. When a user selects a desired program, the digital broadcasting receiver recognizes the parental information related to the program, and determines if the program is subject to viewing restriction or not. If the program is subject to viewing restriction, the digital broadcasting receiver requests the user to input a password or the like. When the digital broadcasting receiver can verify the password, it lifts the viewing restriction. Thus, the user can view the selected program as an authorized user. In contrast, a user who does not have the password cannot lift the viewing restriction, and cannot view the program. In this manner, a digital broadcasting receiver selects the user of the program subject to viewing restriction. Thus, parental control is performed.  
      To perform processing related to such parental control, first, service information processing part  21  determines if a program a user have instructed to present is subject to viewing restriction or not, and informs controller  19  of the determination results. Based on the results, controller  19  requests the user to input a password or the like, when the program is subject to viewing restriction. Controller  19  performs such processing, and informs service information processing part  21  of viewing restriction information, i.e. if the viewing restriction is placed or not. Responsive to the viewing restriction information from controller  19 , service information processing part  21  generates parental control signal and controls muting part  23  by generated parental control signal. Muting part  23  controls audio video output part  15  so that it should output video signals and audio signals or not. In other words, when service information processing part  21  instructs muting part  23  to place viewing restriction, muting part  23  controls audio video output part  15  so that it stops output of video signals and audio signals. In this manner, parental control, in which when a program subject to viewing restriction is received, presentation of the program is selectively controlled by the authority of a user, is realized.  
      Service information processing part  21  has the above function. In other words, service information processing part  21  works as a viewing restriction information extracting means that extracts viewing restriction information as parental information for controlling the presentation of a program from the related information restored by the restoring means constituted of TS decoder  12  and so on.  
      Further, the present invention also has a function of converting video data restored from a received digital broadcast into composite video signals compliant with the National Television System Committee (NTSC) system, i.e. a standard system of analog video signals, and outputting these composite video signals outside of the digital broadcasting receiver. In the following description, the present invention outputs NTSC composite video signals. However, the invention can be structured to output composite video signals compliant with other systems, e.g. PAL system and SECAM system. Especially, the present invention outputs composite video signals having various kinds of information including the above parental information inserted therein, in a vertical blanking interval (VBI) of the outputting composite video signals.  
      Video data supplied from EPG MUX  22  are fed into NTSC encoder  31 . NTSC encoder  31  converts the supplied video data into NTSC composite video signals. Further, the converted composite video signals are fed into VBI inserter  32 . NTSC encoder  31  works as a video converting means that converts the video data restored by the restoring means into analog video signals.  
      VBI inserter  32  processes various kinds of information to insert it in the horizontal period in a VBI of the composite video signals supplied from NTSC encoder  31 , as packets. As a result, composite video signals having various kinds of information inserted in a VBI is outputted from VBI inserter  32 . Then, for example, these composite video signals are coupled to recording equipment outside of the digital broadcasting receiver for analog recording, or coupled to other television receiver or the like for viewing through the other equipment. Incidentally, in this embodiment, VBI inserter  32  inserts extended data service (XDS) packet information supplied from XDS information generator  33 , which is described next, in a predetermined horizontal period of a VBI. VBI inserter  32  works as an outputting means that inserts information according to the parental information i.e. viewing restriction information extracted by service information processing part  21 , i.e. a viewing restriction information extracting means, into analog video signals supplied from NTSC encoder  31  and outputs them.  
      Parental information extracted by service information processing part  21  is fed into XDS information generator  33 . Based on the supplied parental information, XDS information generator  33  generates parental information corresponding to composite video signals to be outputted from VBI inserter  32 , and feeds the generated parental information into VBI inserter  32  as XDS packet information. In other words, XDS information generator  33  has a function of converting the parental information in digital broadcasting into the parental information compliant with the standard system of analog video signals. To realize such a function, the present invention further has parental information conversion table  34  as viewing restriction information conversion table.  
      Parental information conversion table  34  is a conversion table in which the parental information compliant with the standard of digital broadcasting is correlated with the parental information compliant with the standard system of analog video signals. Parental information conversion table  34  is made of memories or the like. Parental information conversion table  34  correlates respective ratings compliant with the standard of the analog video system with respective ratings compliant with the standard of digital broadcasting and stores the analog ratings as data, for example. Referring to this parental information conversion table  34 , XDS information generator  33  generates XDS packet information including parental information compliant with the standard system of analog video signals from the parental information compliant with the standard of digital broadcasting that is supplied from service information processing part  21 .  
      Further, XDS generator  33  and parental information conversion table  34  realize a function of viewing restriction information converting means, in which the parental information i.e. viewing restriction information extracted by service information processing part  21 , i.e. a viewing restriction information extracting means, is converted into the parental information i.e. viewing restriction information compliant with the video standard of analog video signals converted by NTSC encoder  31 .  
      Now, as an example of inserting various kinds of information in a VBI to provide various kinds of service in the standard system of analog video signals, extended data service (XDS) begins available in the United States, for example. This XDS is specified by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA)- 608 , a standard in the United States. A part of this XDS is parental control using XDS data including parental information. Also in the XDS, the above rating data are supplied and used for viewing restriction in an analog television broadcasting receiver, or recording and reproducing equipment for reproducing the recorded analog video signals, such as VCR.  
      In the XDS, XDS data, i.e. extended data, are inserted on the twenty-first horizontal scanning line, i.e. “line  21 ”, in the second field of the VBI in NTSC composite video signals. This XDS data including parental information is multiplexed with a program and transmitted in analog television broadcasting, for example.  
      XDS information generator  33  of this embodiment generates parental information based on such XDS, and VBI inserter  32  inserts the XDS data including parental information generated by XDS information generator  33  on “line  21 ” in the VBI.  
      In this embodiment, a digital broadcasting receiver corresponding to such XDS is described. However, the present invention is not limited to such XDS, and can be applied to service related to parental control using a VBI that corresponds to each of standards or countries. Especially, storing information corresponding to a plurality of standards and countries in parental information conversion table  34  can easily support a wide range of service related to parental control.  
      Hereinafter, a description is provided of operations of a digital broadcasting receiver of this embodiment structured as above.  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a digital broadcasting system including this digital broadcasting receiver. As shown in  FIG. 2 , digital broadcasting is provided by transmission of satellite waves from broadcasting satellite  91 , terrestrial waves from broadcasting transmitter  92 , or broadcasting waves from cable transmitter  93  in a cable station. These digital broadcasting radio waves transmitted are received by a digital broadcasting receiver or the like each user has, and each program of the digital broadcasting is presented to the user.  FIG. 2  shows an example that this digital broadcasting receiver  100  receives digital broadcasting radio waves. A function peculiar to this digital broadcasting receiver  100  is especially shown as a function block herein. That is a function of converting parental information added to a digital broadcast into parental information compliant with the standard system of analog video signals and inserting the converted parental information into composite video signals for output.  
      In digital broadcasting system, the parental information is transmitted with being stored in the above EIT or PMT as a descriptor called “content_advisory_descriptor”.  FIG. 3  is a diagram showing how each signal is in a digital broadcast. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in digital broadcasting radio waves, a data series for broadcasting is modulated in the form of a bit stream called a transport stream for transmission. Such digital broadcasting radio waves are restored to transport stream  301  in tuner  11 . Transport stream  301  is constituted of a packet series including video packet  314 , audio packet  313 , PMT packet  311  and EIT packet  312 . Further, in PMT packet  311  or EIT packet  312 , “content_advisory_descriptor”  400  including rating information is stored. A video decoding and outputting apparatus of the present invention generates XDS packet information based on parental information stored in “content_advisory descriptor”  400 , such as rating information, and inserts the XDS packet information in a VBI, for output as composite video signals.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , first, digital broadcasting receiver  100  extracts an EIT and PMT from transport stream  301 . Next, digital broadcasting receiver  100  extracts “content_advisory_descriptor”  400  from the EIT or PMT to extract rating information of the program that is currently being received. Such parental information including the rating information of the received digital broadcast is converted into rating information compliant with the standard of analog video. Further, the converted rating information is inserted on “line  21 ” in a VBI of analog composite signals, and supplied as NTSC or PAL composite video signals.  
      Next, a detailed description is provided of the operation of converting parental information in a digital broadcast into parental information compliant with the standard system of analog video signals, which is a feature of this invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a drawing showing a structure of “content_advisory_descriptor”  400  in a digital broadcast.  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are tables showing details of data related to parental information in XDS.  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are tables showing further detailed rating information and other information.  FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing parental output processing. In other words,  FIG. 7  shows from a step of generating XDS packets according to the format of XDS shown in  FIG. 5   a ,  5   b  and  FIG. 6   a ,  6   b  based on “content_advisory_descriptor”  400  shown in  FIG. 4  to a step of inserting the XDS packets into analog composite video signals.  
      Hereinafter, a description is mainly provided of the steps of  FIG. 7  and of parental output processing of the present invention with reference to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6   a ,  6   b.    
      In step S 710  of  FIG. 7 , “content_advisory_descriptor”  400  is extracted form an EIT or PMT. In other words, with reference to  FIG. 1 , service information processing part  21  extracts “content_advisory descriptor”  400  from the supplied EIT or PMT information.  
      Next, in step S 712 , “rated_dimensions”  401  is read from “content_advisory_descriptor”  400 . In other words, service information processing part  21  analyses extracted “content_advisory_descriptor”  400  and detects this “rated_dimensions”  401  first. “Rated_dimensions”  401  is information indicating the types of viewing restrictions. Such types of viewing restrictions include a viewing restriction compliant with the standard of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), i.e. a film association in the United States, and viewing restrictions compliant with the standards of the U.S. television or Canada television. Further, in some cases, “rated_dimensions”  401  includes a plurality of types of viewing restrictions, e.g. those of MPA and U.S.TV.  
      Next, in step S 714 , if the number of loops designated by “rated_dimensions”  401 , i.e. the number of types of viewing restrictions applied to the program, has been processed is confirmed. When the designated number of loops has been processed, the procedure goes to step S 722 . When the designated number of loops has not been processed, the procedure goes to step S 716 .  
      In step S 716 , “rating_value”  402  is read from “content_advisory_descriptor”  400 . In other words, service information processing part  21  further analyses “content_advisory_descriptor”  400 , and detects this “rating_value”  402 . “Rating_value”  402  is information indicating the level of ratings in the type indicated by “rated_dimensions”  401 , which has been detected in the previous step.  
      Next, in step S 718 , XDS data is generated according to previously detected “rated_dimensions”  401  and “rating_value”  402 . In other words, referring to parental information conversion table  34 , XDS information generator  33  generates XDS data, i.e. parental information compliant with the standard of analog video signals, from parental information, i.e. “rated_dimensions”  401  and “rating_value”  402 , compliant with the standard of digital broadcasting that is supplied from service information processing part  21 . Thus, XDS data is generated.  
      Next, in step S 720 , an XDS packet is generated using the generated XDS data. In other words, XDS information generator  33  edits the XDS data generated in step S 718  into a format corresponding to the XDS packet shown in  FIG. 5   a ,  5   b , and generates XDS packet information to be inserted into composite video signals.  
      As described above, in steps from S 716  to S 720 , XDS packet information corresponding to one type of viewing restriction is generated. After step S 720 , the procedure returns to step S 714 . Such processing in steps from S 716  to S 720  is repeated at the number of times designated by “rated_dimensions”  401 .  
      Further, in step S 722 , the XDS packet information generated in step S 720  is inserted in a VBI of composite video signals. In other words, VBI inserter  32  inserts the XDS packet information from XDS information generator  33  on “line  21 ” in the VBI.  
      As described above, performing processing in the steps shown  FIG. 7  realizes a video decoding and outputting method in a video decoding and outputting apparatus of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a drawing showing a specific example of the parental processing described with reference to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 8  shows a specific example, corresponding to respective steps of  FIG. 7 . For simple description,  FIG. 8  gives an example in which the MPA rating is “PG-13” and the U.S. TV rating is “TV-PG”.  
      First, as shown in step S 710  of  FIG. 7 , this digital broadcasting receiver extracts “content_advisory_descriptor”  400  from PMT  311  or EIT  312  in transport stream  301  of  FIG. 3 .  
      Next, as shown in step S 712  of  FIG. 8 , referring to “rated_dimensions”  401  in “content_advisory descriptor”  400 , the digital broadcasting receiver determines the types of viewing restrictions in the transport stream. In this example, “rated_dimensions”  401  is “2”. This shows two types of viewing restrictions, i.e. MPA and U.S. TV, are used. Further, because two types are used, it is determined that two loops are necessary.  
      In the first loop, the parental information of MPA is obtained.  FIG. 8  shows an example in which “rating_value”  402  of MPA is “3”. In this case, referring to parental information conversion table  34  including information shown in  FIG. 6   a , XDS information generator  33  determines that the rating is “PG-13”. Further, referring to the format of XDS packets shown in  FIG. 5   a ,  5   b , XDS information generator  33  determines that both “a1” and “a0” are “0” for MPA, and “r2” is “0”, “r1” is “1” and “r0” is “1” for “PG-13”.  
      Next, in the second loop, the parental information of U.S. TV is obtained.  FIG. 8  shows an example in which “rating_value”  402  of U.S. TV is “4”. In this case, referring to parental information conversion table  34  including information shown in  FIG. 6   b , XDS information generator  33  determines that the rating is “TV-PG”. Further, referring to the format of XDS packets shown in  FIG. 5   b , XDS information generator  33  determines that “a1” is “0” and “a0” is “1” for U.S. TV, and all of “V”, “S”, “L” and “D” are “1” for “TV-PG”.  
      In this manner, XDS packets shown in step S 720  of  FIG. 8  are generated. When a plurality of types of viewing restrictions is applied like this example, the XDS packets of all the types are inserted in the VBI. However, the priority of viewing restrictions is set beforehand, and the viewing restriction having higher priority can be selected. Alternatively, a user can select the viewing restriction for insertion in the VBI. For viewing restrictions other than described above, e.g. “NC-17”, “X”, and “TV-MA”, the same processing as described above is performed and a description thereof is omitted. Additionally, for information on Canadian viewing restrictions of  FIG. 5   b , the same processing can be used to insert parental information in an analog VBI.  
     Second Exemplary Embodiment  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a video decoding and outputting apparatus in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Also in the second exemplary embodiment, an example of a digital broadcasting receiver, i.e. an embodiment of a video decoding and outputting apparatus of the present invention, is described. The second exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 9  is different from the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in that the second exemplary embodiment has VBI information generator  43  instead of XDS information generator  33  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a digital broadcasting system including a digital broadcasting receiver of the second exemplary embodiment.  
      Hereinafter a description is provided of a structure and operation of digital broadcasting receiver  200  of the second exemplary embodiment with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , VBI information generator  43  receives emergent alert system (EAS) information together with parental information from service information processing part  21 , and closed caption (CC) information from video decoder  14 . The EAS means service for broadcasting emergency information, such as a tornado, multiplexed into a TV broadcast.  
      Based on supplied parental information, EAS information, and CC information, VBI information generator  43  generates XDS packet information that includes parental information corresponding to composite video signals to be supplied from VBI inserter  32 , and also generates XDS packet information including EAS information and CC information. In other words, as shown in  FIG. 10 , VBI information generator  43  has a function of editing EAS information and CC information so as to correspond to XDS packets. Further, VBI information generator  43  feeds XDS packets, including generated parental information, EAS information, and CC information, to VBI inserter  32 . In turn, VBI inserter  32  inserts respective XDS packets generated by VBI information generator  43  on the line in the VBI. As a result, this digital broadcasting receiver  200  outputs composite video signals having EAS information and CC information together with parental information inserted therein.  
      This digital broadcasting receiver  200  can insert both of EAS information and CC information together with parental information. Alternatively, the digital broadcasting receiver can insert one of them or combination with other information.  
      As described above, the present invention can provide an apparatus and method of video decoding and outputting in which viewing restrictions effectively work even when video signals supplied from an analog composite video output terminal or the like are viewed or recorded. Thus, the present invention can apply to equipment having a function of receiving digital video and outputting it as analog video signals, a digital broadcasting receiver, STB, VCR, DVD device, or other apparatuses having such a function.