Video call method and video call mediating apparatus

1. A video call method between a plurality of terminals, the method comprising:

establishing, by a first terminal, a first video call session with a second terminal, the first terminal having a plurality of display areas comprising first, second and third display areas;

establishing, by the first terminal, a second video call session with a third terminal;

displaying, by the first terminal, a first image received from the second terminal through the first video call session and a second image received from the third terminal through the second video call session on a first display area and on a second display area, respectively,

detecting, by the first terminal, a predetermined event while a plurality of video call sessions including the first and the second video call sessions are being maintained;

terminating, by the first terminal, one video call session among the video call sessions in response to the detecting the predetermined event,

establishing, by the first terminal, a third video call session with a fourth terminal;

displaying, by the first terminal, a third image received from the fourth terminal through the third video call session on a third display area;

determining that one video call session among the video call sessions has been maintained longer than a reference time period,

receiving information corresponding to one-to-one video call request from one terminal to another terminal which established the maintained one video call session,

receiving information corresponding to acceptance from a user of the other terminal; and

blocking a video call sessions other than a video call sessions between the one terminal requested the one-to-one video call and the other terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the second terminal, a fourth image from the first terminal through the first video call session; and

displaying, by the second terminal, the fourth image on a display area of the second terminal.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

receiving, by the third terminal, the fourth image from the first terminal through the second video call session; and

displaying, by the third terminal, the fourth image on a display area of the third terminal.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting the predetermined event comprises detecting a swipe input to one of the display areas.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting the predetermined event and the terminating one video call session among the video call sessions comprises:

detecting eye direction of a user of the first terminal, by using a camera included in the first terminal;

determining whether the detected eye direction is pointing one of the display areas longer than or equal to a reference time period; and

maintaining a video call session corresponding to the pointed display area and terminating the remaining video call sessions, based on the determination.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the third display area is corresponding to the terminated video call session.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein a size of the third display area is bigger than a size of the other display areas corresponding to the remaining video call sessions except for the terminated video call session.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising receiving info, illation corresponding to one-to-one video call request from one terminal to another terminal which established a video call session, and information corresponding to virtual goods available for paying for a service of the video call session; and

blocking a video call session other than a video call session between the one terminal requested the one-to-one video call and the other terminal.

9. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing, in a computer the video call method in claim 1 .

10. A video call mediating apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface communicating with each of a plurality of terminals supporting a video call;

a storage;

a processor; and

a memory configured to store instructions executable by the processor,

wherein the processor, by executing the instructions, is configured to:

establish a first video call session between a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal having a plurality of display areas comprising first, second and third display areas;

establishes a second video call session between the first terminal and a third terminal;

display a first image received from the second terminal through the first video call session and a second image received from the third, terminal through the second video call session on a first display area and on a second display area of the first terminal, respectively;

detect a predetermined event while a plurality of video call sessions including the first and the second video call sessions are been maintained;

terminate one video call session among the video call sessions in response to the detecting the predetermined event,

establish a third video call session between the first terminal and a fourth terminal; and

display a third image received from the fourth terminal through the third video call session on a third display area of the first terminal,

wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect eye direction of a user of the first terminal, by using a camera included in the first terminal,

determine whether the detected eye direction is pointing one of the display areas longer than a reference time period, and

maintain a video call session corresponding to the pointed display area and terminating the remaining video call sessions, based on the determination.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the predetermined event is a swipe input to one of the display areas.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the third display area is corresponding to the terminated video call session.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein a size of the third display area is bigger than a size of the other display areas corresponding to the remaining video call sessions except for the terminated video call session.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein in response to determining that one video call session among the video call sessions has been maintained longer than a reference time period, the processor is further configured to:

receive information corresponding to one-to-one video call request from one terminal to another terminal which established the maintained video call session;

receive information corresponding to acceptance from a user of the other terminal; and

blocking a video call session other than a video call session between the one terminal requested the one-to-one video call and the other terminal.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive information corresponding to one-to-one video call request from one terminal to another terminal which established a video call session, and information corresponding to virtual goods available for paying for a service of video call session,

blocking a video call session other than a video call session between the one terminal requested the one-to-one video call and the other terminal.