PORTABLE TERMINAL AND DATA INPUT METHOD THEREFOR

A method and apparatus for receiving data from a virtual input device by detecting and analyzing the motion of a user input means simply using a two-dimensional image sensor without projecting the virtual input device. In a portable terminal for receiving data from a user input means through a virtual input device, an image sensor senses the image of the user input means. An image analyzer detects the position and motion of the user input means from the image. A data input decider decides the input data based on the position and motion. A display displays the image of the user input means together with the virtual input device. An initializer sets an initial motion range and an initial feature image for the user input means.