Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating a step length of a user are provided. The apparatus and method use a step length estimation algorithm, e.g. a step length estimation parameter coefficient, according to a movement state of a user, i.e. whether the movement state is a walking state or a running state. The movement state of the user is determined on the basis of an acceleration variance value of an acceleration signal output from an accelerometer. Accordingly, the apparatus and method prevent errors in step length determinations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating displacement of a user terminal are provided. The method includes estimating, by the user terminal, a moving state of the user terminal; determining a first moving direction probability index of a user, based on the estimated moving state of the user terminal; and determining a moving state of the user terminal and estimating a moving direction of the user terminal, based on the first moving direction probability index.

Abstract: A method and apparatus perform pressure detection in a mobile terminal. method determines a squeezing pressure of the mobile terminal. The method determines whether a user squeezes the mobile terminal using the squeezing pressure determined and a value of a proximity sensor. The method transitions the mobile terminal to a wakeup state in response to determining that the user squeezed the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a portable terminal estimate a step length of a pedestrian. An accelerometer detects acceleration caused by a movement of the portable terminal as a pedestrian carrying the portable terminal walks. A gyroscope detects angular velocity caused by the movement of the portable terminal as the pedestrian walks. A controller determines a magnitude of a swinging motion of the portable terminal by using at least one of the detected acceleration and angular velocity, determines that the portable terminal makes the swinging motion when the magnitude of the swinging motion is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, determines a carrying position of the portable terminal in the pedestrian's body by using at least one of the detected acceleration and angular velocity, and estimates a step length of the pedestrian according to the determined carrying position of the portable terminal.

Abstract: Walking status estimation in a portable terminal includes a method for estimating walking status. The method includes setting an observation using an estimated temporary step length, an acceleration variance, and a step frequency. The method also includes generating an observed probability vector comprising probabilities per walking status according to the observation. The method further includes determining final probabilities per walking status by multiplying the observed probability vector by at least one of an initial probability matrix and one or more status transition probability vectors. The method still further includes determining a walking status having the greatest final probability as a final walking status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining accuracy information of location information. The method includes receiving Global Positioning System (GPS) location information of a user terminal from a GPS, determining whether the user terminal enters into a GPS shadow area, checking terminal movement information including a moving speed and a moving direction of the user terminal, when the user terminal enters into the GPS shadow area, estimating location information of the user terminal based on the terminal movement information, checking auxiliary location information including a moving state of the user terminal, error information of a terrestrial magnetism sensor, and the moving speed of the user terminal, and determining the accuracy information based on an accumulated location error of the estimated location information, based on the auxiliary location information.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method detect a motion in a mobile station. A motion is determined via a motion detecting function in the mobile station. A parameter for motion detection is determined from sensor data obtained via a sensor. The extracted parameter for the motion detection is transmitted to a counterpart mobile station. A parameter for motion detection determined by the counterpart mobile station is received from the counterpart mobile station. The extracted parameter is compared with the parameter received from the counterpart mobile station to determine a function associated with a motion input by a user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recognizing a specific area of an image in a portable terminal. More particularly, an apparatus and method are for determining feature points with very high similarities as one group when the portable terminal recognizes a building included in an image or a picture, and for estimating a matching relation of the group to improve building recognition performance. The apparatus includes an image analyzer configured to, upon extracting feature points used for building recognition, classify feature points with similarities among the extracted feature points into a group, and recognize a building after estimating a matching relation by regarding the classified group as a feature point.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus provides a service using a sensor and image recognition in a portable terminal that supports Augmented Reality (AR). The method includes determining whether the portable terminal is parallel to ground using an acceleration sensor. When the portable terminal is parallel to the ground, either a map including nearby Point Of Interest (POI) information or constellation information is displayed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides a location information service in a portable terminal when the predicted location is reliable. The apparatus includes a validity determiner for, by a moving pattern of a user, determining the validity of location information previously predicted using Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motion input device for portable terminal and an operation method using the same. A motion input device of a portable terminal of the present invention includes a sensor unit configured to collect a sensor signal from at least one sensor; an operation recognition unit configured to generate a motion signal corresponding to an operation of portable terminal based on the sensor signal; a scenario preparation unit configured to generate an input scenario based on at least one motion signal; and a scenario mapping unit configured to detect, in a scenario database, a standards scenario corresponding to the input scenario, and to generate an input signal corresponding to the standards scenario.

Abstract: A portable terminal includes an apparatus for improving motion detection capability. More particularly, the apparatus improves motion detection capability by changing a motion in a normal state according to a motion state or by changing a motion detection process in the portable terminal in order to avoid motion detection capability deterioration in the portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a terminal state determiner that determines a motion state of the terminal by receiving sensing information for determining the motion state, and a controller that changes a motion detection process according to the portable terminal's motion state determined by the terminal state determiner.

Abstract: A pedestrian navigation device and method uses heading information of a terminal to measure a location. Moving direction information and x, y, and z-axis acceleration values of the terminal are detected. Heading information is calculated using the moving direction information of the terminal. Validity of the heading information is determined using the detected x, y, and z-axis acceleration values, making it possible to more accurately estimate the location of the pedestrian.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for taking a panoramic photograph are provided. While a lens of the apparatus is rotated, an angular velocity sensor such as a gyroscope outputs an angular velocity and calculates therefrom a rotation angle of the lens. Accordingly, a user can capture sequential image segments for the panoramic photograph at suitable rotation angles. Since unintended rotations due to a user's hand trembling as well as user's intended rotations can be detected, it may be easy to align overlapped portions of adjacent images and thereby to obtain suitable images for panoramic photograph combination. Also, a user can be informed of a capturable section and a rotating direction by using the calculated angular velocity, so the apparatus may promote a user's convenience and without the need for a burdensome tripod.

Abstract: A method for recognizing motion based on a motion sensor and a mobile terminal using the same are provided. The method includes determining an input type of the user's motion; compensating output data of the input user's motion using a compensated parameter value set corresponding to the determined input type of the user's motion; and recognizing the input user's motion by the compensated output data. The mobile terminal can uniformly recognize the user's motion regardless of the position of the mobile terminal in which a tapping motion is input and the direction in which a snapping motion is input, and thus the motion recognition rate of the mobile terminal is significantly improved.

Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption based on a motion sensor and a portable terminal adapted to the method are disclosed. The method includes terminating driving of a motion recognition program according to whether an input is detected by at least one sensor unit disposed in the portable terminal, and switching a mode of a controller included in the portable terminal into a motion recognition deactivation mode. The motion sensor-based portable terminal can reduce the power consumption, thereby lengthening the life span of the battery. The user can use the motion sensor-based portable terminal for a long period of time without frequently recharging its battery.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing map information using a short message service in a portable terminal are provided. An operation of the portable terminal includes extracting map data around a destination, generating a text message representing the map data, and sending the text message to a called party's portable terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an input device and method of a portable terminal. The present invention includes generating an input event by a first input mode, generating a second input event by a motion of the portable terminal simultaneously or consecutively with the input event, and controlling operation of an application program according to the user function of the portable terminal in consideration of the first and second input events.

Abstract: A portable terminal is configured to perform method for feature recognition. The portable terminal includes a Global Positioning System (GPS), a camera, a sensor, an image geographic information part, an image processor, and a controller. The GPS provides a position of the portable terminal. The camera photographs an image of a feature. The sensor detects a direction of the camera. The image geographic information part stores an image of each feature and geographic information on each feature. The image processor extracts a characteristic of the image of the feature and compares the extracted characteristic with image information stored in the image geographic information part. If recognizing a specific feature through the image processor, the controller proportionally compares geographic information of the image geographic information part with size and direction data on a peripheral feature near the specific feature within an image, and recognizes the peripheral feature.

Abstract: A motion sensor-based user motion recognition method and portable terminal having a motion sensor is disclosed. The method recognizes user motions in a portable terminal. At least one parameter value is extracted from at least one user motion applied to the portable terminal. A reference parameter value serving as a user motion recognition reference is established according to at least one extracted parameter value. The established reference parameter value is stored.