Method and apparatus for annotating video content with metadata generated using speech recognition technology

1. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs a method including:

rendering video content on a display device;

receiving a segment of speech from a user such that the speech segment annotates a portion of the video content currently being rendered;

converting the speech segment to a text-segment;

associating the text-segment with the portion of the video content; and

storing in a selectively retrievable manner the text-segment so that it is associated with the rendered portion of the video content.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising receiving a signal from the user selecting an operational state before receiving the segment of speech.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2 wherein the operational state is selected from the group consisting of an annotate state, a narrate state, a commentary state, an analyze state and a review/edit state.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 2 wherein the user-selectable operational states are presented as a GUI on the display device.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein the GUI is superimposed over the video content being rendered.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the video content is rendered by a set top box.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the video content is rendered by a DVR.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the set top box receives the video content from a video camera.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the DVR receives the video content from a video camera.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising presenting the user with a plurality of different user-selectable operational states defining a mode in which the speech request is to be received.

11. An apparatus for rendering a video program, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium; and

a processor responsive to the computer-readable storage medium and to a software program, the software program, when loaded into the processor, operative to:

render the video content on a display device;

receive a segment of speech from a user such that the speech segment annotates a portion of the video content currently being rendered;

convert the speech segment to a text-segment;

associate the text-segment with the portion of the video content; and

store in a selectively retrievable manner the text-segment so that it is associated with the rendered portion of the video content.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a receiver/tuner for receiving programming content over a broadband communications system; and

a decoder for decoding programming content provided by the receiver/tuner.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to receive a signal from the user selecting an operational state before receiving the segment of speech.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the operational state is selected from the group consisting of an annotate state, a narrate state, a commentary state, an analyze state and a review/edit state.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to receive the video content from a video camera.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to present the user with a plurality of different user-selectable operational states defining a mode in which the speech request is to be received.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the user-selectable operational states are presented as a GUI on the display device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the GUI is superimposed over the video content being rendered.