System and method for in-home set top box management

1. A video services control system, comprising:

a set top box operatively coupled to a television;

a video services network communicatively coupled to the set top box and configured to provide video services to the television via the set top box;

wherein the video services network includes an application program operable to develop and implement individualized usage restriction profiles for two or more users of the set top box to control video services provided to the users, wherein the two or more users include one or more non-designated users and a designated administrator, wherein the application program is configured to provide the designated administrator with authority to dictate the usage restriction profile for each non-designated user, wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on video services provided to the set top box by the video services network for the corresponding user, wherein the application program is configured to receive information input by the designated administrator, develop each usage restriction profile based on the input information unique to each user, and implement each usage restriction profile to control video services provided to the users, and;

wherein the application program is further configured to receive supplemental information comprising:

feedback regarding the video services content, from a first user other than the designated administrator; wherein the first and second users are the persons who are subject to a usage restriction profile;

identification of video services content by the application program that is similar to the video services content dictated in the usage restriction profile by the designated administrator as allowable for viewing by the first user other than the designated administrator; and

feedback regarding the content of the video services content, from a second user other than the designated administrator, wherein the usage restriction profile for the first user other than the designated administrator is modified based upon the supplemental information; and wherein each user is assigned individualized access information, wherein upon receiving the individualized access information for one of the users, the application program is operable to implement the corresponding usage restriction profile and transmit an authorization of video rights to the set to box in accordance with the usage restriction profile.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application program is configured to deny access to each usage restriction profile for modification by the non-designated users.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on the total amount of time that video services are shown by the television for viewing by the corresponding user in a specified period of time based on information input by the designated administrator into the application program.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on the days of the week and times of the day that video services are shown by the television for viewing by the corresponding user based on information input by the designated administrator into the application program.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on the amount of recording of video services allowed by the corresponding user based on information input by the designated administrator into the application program.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on the purchasing of video services allowed by the corresponding user based on information input by the designated administrator into the application program.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second set top box operatively coupled to a second television, wherein the video services network is communicatively coupled to the second set top box and is configured to provide video services to the second television via the second set top box, wherein the application program is configured to implement the usage restriction profiles to control video services viewing by the users on the second television.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application is configured to allow the one or more restrictions to extend for a specified period of time and be removed upon expiration of the specified period of time.

9. A video services control system, comprising: a set top box operatively coupled to a television; a video services network communicatively coupled to the set top box and configured to provide video services to the television via the set top box; wherein the video services network includes an application program operable to develop and implement at least one usage restriction profile for a non-designated user of the set top box based on information received from a designated administrator with authority to dictate the usage restriction profile for the non-designated user via the application program, wherein the usage restriction profile includes restrictions on video services selected from the group consisting of content, amount and timing of video services shown on the television for viewing by the non-designated user, the amount of recording of video services allowed by the non-designated user, and the purchasing of video services allowed by the non-designated user, wherein the application program is configured to receive information input by the designated administrator, develop the usage restriction profile based on the input information, and implement the usage restriction profile to control video services provided to the non-designated user; and

wherein the application program is further configured to receive supplemental information comprising:

feedback regarding the video services content, from a first user other than the designated administrator; wherein the first and second users are the persons who are subject to a usage restriction profile;

identification of video services content by the application program that is similar to the video services content dictated in the usage restriction profile by the designated administrator as allowable for viewing by the first user other than the designated administrator; and

feedback regarding the content of the video services content, from a second user other than the designated administrator, wherein the usage restriction profile for the first user other than the designated administrator is modified based upon the supplemental information; and wherein each user is assigned individualized access information, wherein upon receiving the individualized access information for one of the users, the application program is operable to implement the corresponding usage restriction profile and transmit an authorization of video rights to the set top box in accordance with the usage restriction profile.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a second set top box operatively coupled to a second television, wherein the video services network is communicatively coupled to the second set top box and is configured to provide video services to the second television via the second set top box, wherein the application program is configured to implement the usage restriction profile to control video services viewing by the non-designated user on the second television.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the application program is configured to deny access to the usage restriction profile for modification by the non-designated user.

12. A method for providing video services from a video services network to a set top box operably coupled to a television, comprising: applying an application program to the video services network, wherein the program is operable to develop and implement individualized usage restriction profiles for two or more users of the set top box to control video services viewing by the users, wherein the two or more users include one or more non-designated users and a designated administrator, wherein the application program is configured to provide the designated administrator with authority to dictate the usage restriction profile for each non-designated user; the application program receiving information input from the designated administrator, the information including one or more individualized restrictions for each non-designated user on video services selected from the group consisting of content, amount and timing of video services shown on the television for viewing by the non-designated user, the amount of recording of video services allowed by the non-designated user, and the purchasing of video services allowed by the non-designated user; the application program developing a usage restriction profile for each non-designated user based on the input information received from the designated administrator unique to each non-designated user; and the application program receiving supplemental information comprising:

feedback regarding the video services content, from a first user other than the designated administrator; wherein the first and second users are the persons who are subject to a usage restriction profile;

identification of video services content by the application program that is similar to the video services content dictated in the usage restriction profile by the designated administrator as allowable for viewing by the first user other than the designated administrator; and

feedback regarding the content of the video services content, from a second user other than the designated administrator, wherein the usage restriction profile for the first user other than the designated administrator is modified based upon the supplemental information; and wherein each user is assigned individualized access information, wherein upon receiving the individualized access information for one of the users, the application program is operable to implement the corresponding usage restriction profile and transmit an authorization of video rights to the set top box in accordance with the usage restriction profile.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: the application program assigning one of the non-designated users individualized access information; the one of the non-designated users attempting to access the set top box to view video services by providing the individualized access information; the application program retrieving the corresponding usage restriction profile for the one of the non-designated users using the individualized access information; the application program determining whether the one of the non-designated users is authorized to view the video services according to the usage restriction profile; and the application program transmitting an authorization or denial to the set top box for the one of the non-designated users to view the video services based on the determination.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: one of the non-designated users attempting to modify one of the usage restriction profiles; and the application program denying access to the usage restriction profile for modification by the one of the non-designated users.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: operably coupling a second set top box to a second television and powering on the second set top box; connecting the second set top box to the video services network configured to provide video services to the second television via the second set top box; one of the non-designated users attempting to access the second set top box to view video services through the second television; and the application program implementing the usage restriction profile corresponding to the one of the non-designated users to control video services viewing at the second television.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on the total amount of time that video services are shown by the television for viewing by the corresponding user in a specified period of time based on information input by the designated administrator into the application program.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on the days of the week and times of the day that video services are shown by the television for viewing by the corresponding user based on information input by the designated administrator into the application program.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on the amount of recording of video services allowed by the corresponding user based on information input by the designated administrator into the application program.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein each individualized usage restriction profile includes one or more restrictions on the purchasing of video services allowed by the corresponding user based on information input by the designated administrator into the application program.