Apparatus and method for measuring quantity of physical exercise using acceleration sensor

• US 20060020177A1
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Wei-Jin, Seo, Jeong-Wook
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/22 Stride length
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

Disclosed are a method for measuring quantity of exercise and an apparatus comprising an acceleration sensor for generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to user movement, sensor control unit for supplying power to the acceleration sensor and sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor, a dynamic energy measurement unit for converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy, comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding a predetermined value and determining a user step if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, a calorie consumption measurement unit for calculating calorie consumption by analyzing an energy level of dynamic energy determined as a user step, a memory for storing information, and a display section for displaying information related to the number of steps and calorie consumption.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring a quantity of exercise performed by a user, the apparatus comprising:

an acceleration sensor for generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of the user as the acceleration sensor is powered on;

a sensor control unit for supplying power to the acceleration sensor at a first predetermined time section during a second predetermined time with a first time interval and sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a second predetermined time section of the second predetermined time;

a dynamic energy measurement unit for converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy and determining a step of the user by analyzing the dynamic energy; and

a display section for displaying information related to a number of steps.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor control unit samples the acceleration information of the acceleration sensor when the acceleration sensor stably outputs the acceleration information after the acceleration sensor is driven, and then shuts off power being supplied to the acceleration sensor.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor is a three-axis acceleration sensor capable of generating three-axis acceleration information for detecting a movement in X, Y and Z-axis directions and the dynamic energy measurement unit combines three-axis acceleration information of the acceleration sensor in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined frequency band from the acceleration information.

4. An apparatus for measuring a quantity of exercise performed by a user, the apparatus comprising:

an acceleration sensor for generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of the user;

a sensor control unit for sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a predetermined time interval;

a dynamic energy measurement unit for converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy, comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding a predetermined value, and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value; and

a display section for displaying information related to a number of steps.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dynamic energy measurement unit comprises an acceleration information accumulation module for accumulating acceleration information to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT), a DCT module for converting the acceleration information into DCT acceleration information, an energy extracting module for combining DCT acceleration information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band and a determination module comparing the local maximum value with the predetermined threshold value if the ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the determination module is switched from a standby state into a first state if the dynamic energy has the ascending gradient having a value exceeding a predetermined value, the determination module is switched from the first state into the standby state while determining one step of the user if the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined threshold value and a time interval between a previous local maximum value and a present local maximum value is longer than a predetermined time in the first state, and the determination module is instantly switched into the standby state if at least one of the above two conditions is not satisfied.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a sampling interval determination module for determining a type of exercise performed by a user by comparing a level of a high frequency signal of the DCT information generated from the DCT module and a level trigger signal with a reference level and a reference level trigger signal adaptable for at least two types of exercise and for supplying a sampling frequency to the acceleration sensor by determining the sampling frequency according to the type of exercise.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the type of exercise is detected based on a time interval between steps and the sampling frequency in a fast walking mode is higher than the sample frequency in a normal walking mode.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the type of exercise includes walking, fast walking, jogging and running at full speed, and a highest sampling frequency is applied to a running at full speed mode.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the acceleration sensor is a three-axis acceleration sensor capable of generating three-axis acceleration information for detecting a movement in X, Y and Z-axis directions and the dynamic energy measurement unit combines three-axis acceleration information of the acceleration sensor in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the acceleration information.

11. An apparatus for measuring a quantity of exercise performed by a user, the apparatus comprising:

an acceleration sensor for generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement by a user;

a sensor control unit for supplying power to the acceleration sensor at a first predetermined time section during a second predetermined time with a first time interval and sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a second predetermined time section within the second predetermined time;

a dynamic energy measurement unit for converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy, comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding a predetermined value and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

a calorie consumption measurement unit for calculating calorie consumption by analyzing an energy level of dynamic energy determined as being a step of the user;

a memory for storing information related to a number of steps generated from the dynamic energy measurement unit and the calorie consumption generated from the calorie consumption measurement unit; and

a display section for displaying information related to the number of steps and calorie consumption.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor control unit samples the acceleration information of the acceleration sensor when the acceleration sensor stably outputs the acceleration information after the acceleration sensor is driven, and then shuts off power being supplied to the acceleration sensor.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the acceleration sensor is a three-axis acceleration sensor capable of generating three-axis acceleration information for detecting a movement in X, Y and Z-axis directions and the dynamic energy measurement unit combines three-axis acceleration information of the acceleration sensor in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the acceleration information.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the dynamic energy measurement unit comprises an acceleration information accumulation module for accumulating acceleration information to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT), a DCT module for converting the acceleration information into DCT acceleration information, an energy extracting module for combining DCT acceleration information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band and a determination module comparing the local maximum value with the predetermined threshold value if the ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the determination module is switched from a standby state into a first state if the dynamic energy has the ascending gradient having a value exceeding a predetermined value, the determination module is switched from the first state into the standby state while determining one step of the user if the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined threshold value and a time interval between a previous local maximum value and a present local maximum value is longer than a predetermined time in the first state, and the determination module is instantly switched into the standby state if at least one the above two conditions is not satisfied.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a sampling interval determination module for determining a type of exercise performed by the user by comparing a level of a high frequency signal of the DCT information generated from the DCT module and a level trigger signal with a reference level and a reference level trigger signal adaptable for at least two types of exercise and for supplying a sampling frequency to the acceleration sensor by determining the sampling frequency according to the type of exercise.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the type of exercise is detected based on a time interval between steps and the sampling frequency in a fast walking mode is higher than the sample frequency in a normal walking mode.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the calorie consumption measurement unit has reference values of at least two energy level sections determined through an experiment corresponding to a walking speed and a calorie consumption value for each energy level section, and the calorie consumption measurement unit calculates energy level values of the energy level sections and calorie consumption values thereof by comparing measured energy level values of the energy level sections with the reference values of the energy level sections.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the calorie consumption measurement unit has reference values of at least two energy level sections according to the type of exercise and a calorie consumption value for each energy level section, and the calorie consumption measurement unit calculates energy level values of the energy level sections and calorie consumption values thereof by comparing present energy level values of the energy level sections with the reference values of the energy level sections.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the calculated calorie consumption is updated by taking a weight of the user into consideration.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the values of the level sections of the calorie consumption measurement unit are preset by means of the acceleration sensor according to a position of a portable terminal.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the memory comprises 24 time memories, 31 day memories and 12 month memories, information related to the number of steps generated from the dynamic energy measurement unit and calorie consumption generated from the calorie consumption measurement unit are stored in the time memories corresponding to measurement time thereof, information related to the number of steps and calorie consumption stored in the time memories are stored in the day memory when a date is changed, and information related to the number of steps and calorie consumption stored in the day memories are stored in the month memory when a month is changed.

29. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a sampling interval determination module for determining a type of exerciser of the user by comparing a level of a high frequency signal of the DCT information generated from the DCT module and a level trigger signal with a reference level and a reference level trigger signal adaptable for at least two types of exercise and for supplying a sampling frequency to the acceleration sensor by determining the sampling frequency according to the type of exercise.

30. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 29, wherein the type of exercise is detected based on a time interval between steps and the sampling frequency in a fast walking mode is higher than the sample frequency in a normal walking mode.

23. A portable terminal for performing communication functions and measuring a quantity of exercise performed by a user, portable terminal comprising:

a RF communication section for up-converting a transmission signal into an RF band signal and down-covering a RF signal into a base band signal;

a data processing section for coding and modulating the transmission signal and decoding and demodulating the base band signal;

an acceleration sensor for generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a motion of a user;

a pedometer controller for sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a predetermined time of an operation mode, determining a step of the user by extracting dynamic energy from the sampled acceleration information, and calculating calorie consumption based on energy level of dynamic energy determined as the step of the user;

a portable terminal controller for transmitting the operation mode and position information to the pedometer controller so as to control an operation of a pedometer and requesting data transmission for a number of measured steps to the pedometer controller;

a memory for storing information related to the number of measured steps; and

a display section for displaying information related to the number of steps.

24. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 23, wherein the pedometer controller comprises a sensor control unit for supplying power to the acceleration sensor at a first predetermined time section during a second predetermined time with a first time interval and sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a second predetermined time section of the second predetermined time and a dynamic energy measurement unit converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy, comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding a predetermined value and determining that one step is taken by the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

25. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 24, wherein the sensor control unit samples the acceleration information of the acceleration sensor when the acceleration sensor stably outputs the acceleration information after the acceleration sensor is driven, and then shuts off power being supplied to the acceleration sensor.

26. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 25, wherein the acceleration sensor is a three-axis acceleration sensor capable of generating three-axis acceleration information for detecting a movement in X, Y and Z-axis directions and the dynamic energy measurement unit combines the three-axis acceleration information of the acceleration sensor in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the acceleration information.

27. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 23, wherein the dynamic energy measurement unit comprises an acceleration information accumulation module for accumulating acceleration information to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT), a DCT module for converting the acceleration information into DCT acceleration information, an energy extracting module for combining DCT acceleration information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band and a determination module comparing the local maximum value with the predetermined threshold value if the ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining that one step is taken by the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

28. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 27, wherein the determination module is switched from a standby state into a first state if the dynamic energy has the ascending gradient having a value exceeding a predetermined value, the determination module is switched from the first state into the standby state while determining one step of the user if the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined threshold value and a time interval between a previous local maximum value and a present local maximum value is longer than a predetermined time in the first state, and the determination module is instantly switched into the standby state if at least one of the above two conditions is not satisfied.

31. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a calorie consumption measurement unit, wherein the calorie consumption measurement unit has reference values of at least two energy level sections determined through an experiment corresponding to a walking speed and a calorie consumption value for each energy level section, and the calorie consumption measurement unit calculates energy level values of the energy level sections and calorie consumption values thereof by comparing measured energy level values of the energy level sections with the reference values of the energy level sections.

32. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 31, wherein the calculated calorie consumption is updated by taking a weight of the user into consideration.

33. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 32, wherein the values of the level sections of the calorie consumption measurement unit are preset by means of the acceleration sensor according to a position of the portable terminal.

34. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 23, wherein the memory includes 24 time memories, 31 day memories and 12 month memories, information related to the number of steps generated from the dynamic energy measurement unit and calorie consumption generated from the calorie consumption measurement unit are stored in the time memories corresponding to measurement time thereof, information related to the number of steps and calorie consumption stored in the time memories are stored in the day memory when a date is changed, and information related to the number of steps and calorie consumption stored in the day memories are stored in the month memory when a month is changed.

35. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 34, wherein the display section displays information related to the number of steps and calorie consumption for a predetermined period of time selected by the user.

36. The portable terminal as claimed in claim 34, wherein the display section displays information related to the number of steps and calorie consumption in a form of figures or graphs according to selection of the user.

37. A method for measuring a quantity of exercise using an acceleration sensor for generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying power to the acceleration sensor at a first predetermined time section during a second predetermined time with a first time interval and sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a second predetermined time section of the second predetermined time;

converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy and determining a step of the user by analyzing the dynamic energy; and

displaying and storing information related to a number of steps.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the acceleration information of the acceleration sensor is sampled when the acceleration sensor outputs the acceleration information after the acceleration sensor is driven, and then shuts off power being supplied to the acceleration sensor.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein a signal generated from the acceleration sensor is three-axis acceleration information for detecting a movement in X, Y and Z-axis directions and the three-axis acceleration information is combined when measuring the quantity of exercise in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the acceleration information.

40. A method for measuring a quantity of exercise using an acceleration sensor generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of;

sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a predetermined time interval;

converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy, comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding a predetermined value, and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value; and

displaying and storing information related to a number of steps.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the step of determining one step of the user comprises the substeps of:

accumulating acceleration information to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT), converting the acceleration information into DCT acceleration information, combining DCT acceleration information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band, and comparing the local maximum value with the predetermined threshold value if the ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining that one step is taken by the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the step of determining the step of the user comprises the substeps of shifting from a standby state into a first state if the dynamic energy has the ascending gradient having a value exceeding a predetermined value, shifting from the first state to a second state if the dynamic energy has a local maximum value in the first state, shifting from the second state into the standby state while determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value and a time interval between a previous local maximum value and a present local maximum value is longer than a predetermined time in the second state, and instantly shifting into the standby state if at least one of the above two conditions is not satisfied.

43. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising the steps of determining a type of exerciser of the user by comparing a level of a high frequency signal of the DCT information generated from the DCT module and a level trigger signal with a reference level and a reference level trigger signal adaptable for at least two types of exercise, and supplying a sampling frequency to the acceleration sensor by determining the sampling frequency according to the type of exercise.

44. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the type of exercise is detected based on a time interval between steps and the sampling frequency in a fast walking mode is higher than the sample frequency in a normal walking mode.

45. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein a signal generated from the acceleration sensor is three-axis acceleration information for detecting a movement in X, Y and Z-axis directions and the three-axis acceleration information is combined when measuring the quantity of exercise in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the acceleration information.

48. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the calculated calorie consumption is updated by taking a weight of the user into consideration after calculating calorie consumption for a person having an average weight.

49. The method as claimed in claim 48, wherein the values of the level sections of the calorie consumption measurement unit are preset by means of the acceleration sensor according to a position of a portable terminal.

46. A method for measuring a quantity of exercise using an acceleration sensor generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying power to the acceleration sensor at a first predetermined time section during a second predetermined time with a first time interval and sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a second predetermined time section of the second predetermined time;

converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy, comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding a predetermined value and determining one step being taken by a user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

calculating energy level values of energy level sections and calorie consumption values thereof by comparing measured energy level values of the energy level sections determined as the step of the user with the energy values of the energy level sections, in which energy level values of at least two energy level sections are determined through an experiment corresponding to a walking speed and calorie consumption thereof; and

storing and displaying information related to a number of steps and the calorie consumption generated from a calorie consumption measurement unit.

47. The method as claimed in claim 46, wherein a present energy level value is compared with the energy level values of the energy level sections, thereby calculating the energy level value of the energy level section and calorie consumption thereof.

50. A method for measuring a quantity of exercise in a portable terminal equipped with a pedometer having an acceleration sensor generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor while controlling the acceleration sensor in every predetermined time of an operation mode;

determining a step of the user by measuring dynamic energy based on the sampled acceleration information and updating and storing data related to a number of steps when the dynamic energy is determined as the step of the user;

transmitting the data related to the number of steps to a controller of the portable terminal when the portable terminal requests transmission of the data; and

accumulating and storing information related to the number of steps and calorie information in the controller of the portable terminal.

51. The method as claimed in claim 50, wherein the step of sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor comprises the substeps of supplying power to the acceleration sensor at a first predetermined time section during a second predetermined time with a first time interval thereby driving the acceleration sensor, sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a predetermined point of the second predetermined time and shutting off the power being supplied to the acceleration sensor.

52. The method as claimed in claim 51, wherein the power-off step comprises the substeps of sampling the acceleration information of the acceleration sensor when the acceleration sensor outputs the acceleration information after the acceleration sensor is driven, and stopping power supply until the first predetermined time has lapsed.

53. The method as claimed in claim 51, wherein the step of determining a step of the user comprises the substeps of accumulating acceleration information to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT), converting the acceleration information into DCT acceleration information, combining DCT acceleration information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band, and comparing the local maximum value with the predetermined threshold value if the ascending gradient of the dynamic energy has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining that one step is taken by the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

54. The method as claimed in claim 53, wherein the step of determining a step of the user comprises the substeps of shifting from a standby state into a first state if the dynamic energy has the ascending gradient having a value exceeding a predetermined value, shifting from the first state to a second state if the dynamic energy has a local maximum value in the first state, shifting from the second state into the standby state while determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value and a time interval between a previous local maximum value and a present local maximum value is longer than a predetermined time in the second state, and instantly shifting into the standby state if at least one of the above two conditions is not satisfied.

55. The method as claimed in claim 51, further comprising the steps of determining a type of exercise performed by the user by comparing a level of a high frequency signal of the DCT information and a level trigger signal with a reference level and a reference level trigger signal adaptable for at least two types of exercise, and supplying a sampling frequency to the acceleration sensor by determining the sampling frequency according to the type of exercise.

56. The method as claimed in claim 55, wherein the type of exercise is detected based on a time interval between steps and the sampling frequency in a fast walking mode is higher than the sample frequency in a normal walking mode.

57. The method as claimed in claim 53, wherein a signal generated from the acceleration sensor is three-axis acceleration information for detecting a movement in X, Y and Z-axis directions and the three-axis acceleration information is combined when measuring the quantity of exercise in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the acceleration information.

58. The method as claimed in claim 50, further comprising the steps of comparing a present energy level value determined as the step of the user with a predetermined energy value of energy level sections and calculating and storing calorie consumption according to a result of the comparison, wherein the energy level values of at least two energy level sections are determined through an experiment corresponding to a walking speed and calorie consumption corresponding to the values of the energy level sections is predetermined.

59. The method as claimed in claim 58, further comprising the steps of determining a type of exercise performed by the user by comparing a level of a high frequency signal of the DCT information and a level trigger signal with a reference level and a reference level trigger signal adaptable for at least two types of exercise, and supplying a sampling frequency to the acceleration sensor by determining the sampling frequency according to the type of exercise.

60. The method as claimed in claim 59, wherein the type of exercise is detected based on a time interval between steps and the sampling frequency in a fast walking mode is higher than the sample frequency in a normal walking mode.

61. A method for displaying quantity of exercise using an acceleration sensor by sampling acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor with a predetermined interval, the acceleration sensor generating the acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

accumulating the acceleration information in order to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT);

calculating an average value of the accumulated acceleration information, comparing the average value of the accumulated acceleration information with a threshold value, regarding the acceleration information as acceleration information derived from a change of an angular position of an apparatus if the average value of the accumulated acceleration information exceeds the threshold value, and temporarily stopping measurement for dynamic energy during a predetermined period of time;

converting the accumulated acceleration information into DCT information if the average value of the accumulated acceleration information is within a range of the threshold value;

combining the DCT information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the DCT information; and

comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of extracted energy data has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

62. The method as claimed in claim 61, wherein the step of calculating an average value of the accumulated acceleration information comprises the substeps of calculating an average value of a predetermined number of accumulated acceleration information including sampled acceleration information, changing the average value into a maximum value if the average value is larger than a predetermined maximum value, changing the average value into a minimum value if the average value is smaller than a predetermined minimum value, and calculating a difference value between the maximum value and the minimum value, comparing the difference value with a predetermined threshold value, initializing the maximum value and the minimum value and stopping sampling work for the acceleration information for a predetermined period of time if the difference value is larger than the threshold value, and performing DCT if the difference value is smaller than the threshold value.

63. A method for displaying quantity of exercise using an acceleration sensor by sampling acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor with a predetermined interval, the acceleration sensor generating the acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a motion of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

accumulating the acceleration information in order to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT);

converting the accumulated acceleration information into DCT information;

combining the DCT information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the DCT information;

accumulating the extracted energy components by dividing the extracted energy components into high frequency energy components and low frequency energy components, regarding the acceleration information as acceleration information derived from an error of the acceleration sensor if the high frequency components are larger than the low frequency components, and waiting for next sampling of the acceleration information; and

inspecting extracted energy data if low frequency components are larger than the high frequency components, comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of extracted energy data has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

64. The method as claimed in claim 63, wherein the low frequency component and high frequency component of the extracted energy are calculated according to the following equation:

65. A method for displaying quantity of exercise using an acceleration sensor by sampling acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor with a predetermined interval, the acceleration sensor generating the acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

stopping an operation of a step counter if a step is not detected during a predetermined period of time;

accumulating the acceleration information in order to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT) when a sampling input occurs;

converting the accumulated acceleration information into DCT information;

combining the DCT information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the DCT information;

comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of extracted energy data has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

storing a step occurrence time when one step of the user is determined, inspecting the step counter, and changing information related to a number of steps if the step counter is an on-state; and

inspecting whether a predetermined number of steps is continuously detected within a predetermined time if the step counter is an off-state, turning on the step counter if the predetermined number of steps is detected within the predetermined time, and maintaining the off-state of the step counter if the predetermined number of steps is not detected within the predetermined time.

66. The method as claimed in claim 65, wherein the step of stopping an operation of a step counter comprises the substeps of turning-on the step counter when a time interval between a predetermined odd sampling input and a predetermined even sampling input is within a predetermined time range, and turning-off the step counter if the time interval is out of the predetermined time range.

67. The method as claimed in claim 65, wherein the step of stopping an operation of a step counter comprises the substeps of turning-on the step counter when a time interval between predetermined sampling inputs is within a predetermined time range, and turning-off the step counter if the time interval is out of the predetermined time range.

68. A method for displaying a quantity of exercise using an acceleration sensor by sampling acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor with a predetermined interval, the acceleration sensor generating the acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a movement of a user, the method comprising the steps of:

stopping an operation of a step counter if a step is not detected during a predetermined period of time;

accumulating the acceleration information in order to allow the acceleration information to be subject to discrete cosine transform (DCT) when a sampling input occurs;

calculating an average value of the accumulated acceleration information, comparing the average value of the accumulated acceleration information with a threshold value, regarding the acceleration information as acceleration information derived from a change of an angular position of an apparatus if the average value of the accumulated acceleration information exceeds the threshold value, and temporarily stopping measurement for dynamic energy during a predetermined period of time;

converting the accumulated acceleration information into DCT information if the average value of the accumulated acceleration information is within the threshold value;

combining the DCT information in order to extract an energy component of a predetermined band from the DCT information;

accumulating the extracted energy components by dividing the extracted energy components into high frequency energy components and low frequency energy components, regarding the acceleration information as acceleration information derived from an error of the acceleration sensor if the high frequency components are larger than the low frequency components, and waiting for next sampling of the acceleration information;

inspecting extracted energy data if low frequency components are larger than the high frequency components, comparing a local maximum value with a predetermined threshold value if an ascending gradient of extracted energy data has the local maximum value exceeding the predetermined value and determining one step of the user if the local maximum value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

storing a step occurrence time when one step of the user is determined, inspecting the step counter, and changing information related to a number of steps if the step counter is an on-state; and

inspecting whether a predetermined number of steps is continuously detected within a predetermined time if the step counter is an off-state, turning on the step counter if the predetermined number of steps is detected within the predetermined time, and maintaining the off-state of the step counter if the predetermined number of steps is not detected within the predetermined time.

69. A method for controlling a pedometer of a portable terminal comprising an acceleration sensor generating acceleration information by measuring a quantity of exercise according to a motion of a user, the pedometer sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor while controlling the acceleration sensor in every predetermined time of an operation mode, determining a step of the user by measuring dynamic energy based on the sampled acceleration information and updating and storing data related to a number of steps when the dynamic energy is determined as the step of the user, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a signal for controlling an operation of the pedometer with a predetermined time interval in the operation mode of the pedometer;

requesting data transmission to the pedometer, receiving information related to the number of steps measured by the pedometer, and storing and displaying the information; and

transmitting a control signal to the pedometer to temporarily stop an operation of the pedometer when the portable terminal performs its functions.

70. The method as claimed in claim 69, wherein the control signal is generated upon a key input, an operation of a vibration motor, an output of audio sound through a speaker, or an on and or off operation of a folder or a slider.

71. A method for measuring quantity of exercise using an acceleration sensor generating acceleration information by measuring the quantity of exercise according to a motion of a user, the method comprising the steps of;

supplying power to the acceleration sensor for a predetermined period of time at a time section established by a sampling frequency of an operation mode and sampling the acceleration information generated from the acceleration sensor at a predetermined point of the predetermined period of time;

converting the sampled acceleration information into dynamic energy, and determining one step of the user by analyzing the dynamic energy;

storing a step occurrence time and maintaining the sampling frequency of the operation mode if the dynamic energy is determined as the step of the user, changing step information, and storing and displaying the step information;

checking a previous step occurrence time if the dynamic energy is not determined as the step of the user and replacing the sampling frequency with a lower sampling frequency, which is lower than the sampling frequency of the operation mode when a predetermined time has lapsed from the previous step occurrence time.

72. The method as claimed in claim 71, wherein at least two lower sampling frequencies and predetermined times for replacing the sampling frequency with the lower sampling frequencies are prepared, and a predetermined period of time, in which the step is not detected, is compared with the predetermined times in order to sequentially replace the sampling frequency with the lower sampling frequencies in an order of the frequency thereof.