Terminal having at least two screens for providing digital content, in particular for users with a media-related disorder

Abstract

The invention relates to a terminal having at least two screens for providing digital content, in particular for users with a media-related disorder. The terminal comprises a first screen and a second screen. The first screen is configured to provide digital content of a first quality and the second screen is configured to provide digital content of a second quality, the first quality being higher than the second quality. The terminal also comprises a computer unit, a blocking unit and a control unit. The blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen, and the control unit is configured to receive inputs for controlling the blocking unit and to control the blocking unit according to the inputs for controlling the blocking unit.

Description

[0001] Device with at least two screens for providing digital content, especially for users with a media-related disorder

[0002] The invention relates to an end device with at least two screens for providing digital content, particularly for users with a media-related disorder, as well as a method and a computer program for providing digital content on such an end device. The invention also relates to a control device for controlling the provision of digital content on at least two screens.

[0003] Devices for delivering digital content have become indispensable in the private and professional lives of many people. These devices include smartphones, tablet computers (or simply tablets), laptop computers (or simply laptops), and also traditional desktop PCs with input and output devices. The type of digital content delivered can vary greatly. Such devices can be used, for example, for communication, especially for making phone calls, video calls, or sending and receiving messages via email, SMS, instant messaging, etc., or for information management, particularly by providing time and date information, a digital address book, a digital calendar, or digital to-do lists and reminders, etc.Mobile devices, especially smartphones and tablets, are already used by many people to provide digital content, replacing a multitude of everyday items such as watches, alarm clocks, flashlights, calculators, remote controls, navigation systems and maps, or bank cards for cashless payments. Unrestricted access to such functions can be essential for users of these devices.

[0004] At the same time, unrestricted access to digital content, or the constant availability of certain digital content, can also be perceived as disruptive or even stressful. Distracting media consumption can reduce attention span and thus productivity. Furthermore, the use, and especially the excessive use, of media such as computer or video games, social media, or streaming services can lower well-being or even lead to a media-related disorder. One problem is the high appeal of digital content presented on screens. It is therefore beneficial, particularly for people with a media-related disorder, to reduce their consumption of digital content presented on screens.Known solutions are limited to completely switching off the end devices, or at least the output devices, or completely preventing access to them, usually in combination with time controls, using software, hardware, or mechanical devices. These solutions have the disadvantage that, when switched off or locked, the provision of digital content is completely prevented, even if some of the available digital content is not perceived as disruptive or burdensome, but, on the contrary, is indispensable.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to assist a user of an end device in reducing the consumption of disruptive digital content on screens. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the consumption of disruptive digital content on screens without restricting access to non-disruptive and essential digital content.

[0006] This task is solved by an end device with at least two screens for providing digital content, especially for users with a media-related disorder, the end device comprising: a first screen, wherein the first screen is configured to provide digital content in a first quality; a second screen, wherein the second screen is configured to provide digital content in a second quality, the first quality being higher than the second quality; a computer unit, wherein the computer unit is communicatively connected to the first screen via a first interface and wherein the computer unit is communicatively connected to the second screen via a second interface; a blocking unit, wherein the blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen; and a control unit.wherein the control unit is configured to receive inputs for controlling the blocking unit and to control the blocking unit according to the inputs for controlling the blocking unit.

[0007] Temporarily blocking the delivery of digital content on the first screen has the effect that, during the block, the digital content can only be delivered on the second screen. Since the first screen is configured to deliver digital content in a higher quality and the second screen is configured to deliver digital content in a lower quality, the digital content can only be delivered in the lower quality during the temporary block. This reduces the appeal of the intrusive digital content and the incentive for the user to consume it, thereby reducing the consumption of such content.However, the provision of digital content is not completely blocked, so essential functions of the end device can still be used.

[0008] The terminal device has a computing unit, which may include a processor and various memory units, and interfaces that allow the terminal device or computing unit to connect to output and input devices, sensors, other terminal devices, or networks. Output devices primarily include devices for displaying visual information, such as screens, and devices for displaying auditory information, such as speakers. Input devices include all devices that enable interaction with the terminal device. Examples of input devices are those with physical keys and switches, such as a conventional computer keyboard or mouse, and those with a touch-sensitive input area, such as touchscreens or touchpads.The terminal device can also be equipped with a variety of sensors that enable input and are therefore part of an input device, such as cameras, microphones, gyroscopes, accelerometers, or fingerprint sensors. Combinations of the aforementioned output and input devices are also possible. For example, a touchscreen can be configured to both output visual information and input information, such as for controlling the terminal device. The respective output and input devices, such as screens, can be permanently connected to the terminal device or computer unit, or they can be designed as standalone devices that connect to the terminal device via a physical or wireless interface.

[0009] Generally, the first screen and the second screen are electronic displays used to provide digital content. For example, the screens can provide digital content in the form of visual information such as images or videos by displaying the visual information on the screens. Different types of screens can be distinguished based on the physical principle underlying the display of visual information. Examples of screens that actively emit light include cathode ray tube (CRT) screens, plasma screens, backlit liquid crystal displays (LCD screens), and LED screens such as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens. Screens can also be designed as passive, non-luminescent displays that reflect incident light.Examples of screens designed as passive, non-illuminating displays include e-paper screens, which display visual information, for example, using electrophoretic technology. Combinations are also possible, such as an LCD screen with LED backlighting or an e-paper screen with integrated backlighting or front lighting. Digital information is typically provided on a screen by displaying visual information. Visual information includes, among other things, the color (wavelengths or wavelength ranges) of the emitted or reflected light, the intensity of the emitted or reflected light, and spatial and temporal patterns of the emitted or reflected light.To display spatial patterns, screens can be divided into a large number of individual picture points, which are called pixels and which can usually be controlled individually.

[0010] In general, the delivery of digital content to a screen is influenced, among other things, by the characteristics of the screen itself. For example, delivering the same digital content to two different screens can result in very different visual representations if the two screens differ significantly in at least one characteristic. The goal when delivering digital content to a screen is usually to present the content in such a way as to create the most satisfactory experience possible for the user. Therefore, when delivering digital content to screens, a distinction can be made regarding the quality with which a screen delivers the digital content.If a first screen presents digital content in a first way and a second screen presents the same digital content in a second way, and the first way of presenting the digital content creates a more satisfactory impression on a user than the second way of presenting the digital content, then the first screen presents the digital content in a higher quality than the second screen. The quality is preferably determined by the size of the screens, with the first screen presenting digital content in a higher quality than the second screen if the first screen is larger than the second screen.

[0011] Resolution of the screens, where the first screen provides digital content in a higher quality than the second screen, if the first screen has a higher resolution than the second screen,

[0012] Response time of the screens, where the first screen provides digital content in higher quality than the second screen, if the first screen has a faster response time than the second screen,

[0013] Refresh rate of the screens, where the first screen provides digital content in a higher quality than the second screen, if the first screen has a higher refresh rate than the second screen,

[0014] Color reproduction of the screens, where the first screen provides digital content in a higher quality than the second screen, if the first screen reproduces multiple colors in different intensities and the second screen reproduces only one color in different intensities,

[0015] Color depth of the screens, where the first screen provides digital content in higher quality than the second screen, if the first screen reproduces more color gradations than the second screen, and / or

[0016] Occurrence of display artifacts, where the first screen provides digital content in a higher quality than the second screen, when fewer display artifacts occur on the first screen than on the second screen.

[0017] Examples of display artifacts include blurring or pronounced motion blur when playing videos on conventional e-paper displays based on electrophoretic technology. These types of display artifacts occur when the response time of an e-paper display is too slow to resolve motion in a video or when crosstalk occurs with neighboring pixels when addressing a pixel. The blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the delivery of digital content to the first screen. For example, if the first screen delivers digital content as user-perceived visual information, blocking the delivery of digital content to the first screen by the blocking unit will prevent any user-perceived visual information from being delivered.In this case, the blocking unit is configured to prevent any visual information perceptible to the user from being displayed on the first screen. If the first screen functions as both an output device and an input device, temporarily blocking the display of digital content on the first screen can also include blocking input. For example, if the first screen is a touchscreen, capable of both displaying visual information and receiving input, blocking the display of digital content can mean both preventing any visual information from being displayed perceptibly to the user and preventing the user from making any input on the touchscreen-enabled first screen.The blocking unit is further configured to block the delivery of digital content to the first screen only temporarily, not permanently. For example, the blocking unit could be activated by the control unit at a first point in time to block the delivery of digital content to the first screen. At a second, later point in time, the blocking unit could be deactivated by the control unit, thus removing the block on the delivery of digital content to the first screen. In this example, the delivery of digital content to the first screen would be blocked during the period between the first and second points in time, but not before the first point in time and not after the second point in time.

[0018] Preferably, the blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the delivery of digital content to both the first and second screens. This temporary blocking of digital content on both screens means that, during the blocking period, no digital content can be delivered to either screen. In this case, the blocking unit is configured to prevent any visual information perceptible to the user from being delivered to either screen. Furthermore, the blocking unit is configured to block the delivery of digital content on both screens only temporarily, not permanently.In one example, the blocking unit could be activated by the control unit at a first point in time to block the delivery of digital content to both the first and second screens. At a later point in time, the blocking unit could be deactivated by the control unit, thus removing the block on the delivery of digital content to both screens. In this example, the delivery of digital content to both screens would be blocked during the period between the first and second points in time, but not before or after the first point in time. In another example, the blocking unit could be activated by the control unit at a first point in time to block the delivery of digital content to the first screen.At a later point in time, the blocking unit could be activated by the control unit to block the delivery of digital content to both the first and second screens. At a later point in time, the blocking unit could be deactivated by the control unit to no longer block the delivery of digital content to either the first or second screen. In this example, the delivery of digital content to the first screen would be blocked between the first and second points in time, but not the delivery of digital content to the second screen. Furthermore, the delivery of digital content to both the first and second screens would be blocked between the second and third points in time.Before the first point in time and after the third point in time, in this example, neither the provision of digital content on the first screen nor the provision of digital content on the second screen would be blocked. Blocking the provision of digital content on the first screen and on the second screen has the advantage that the consumption of digital content is temporarily restricted to output devices different from the first and second screens, thereby further reducing the consumption of disruptive digital content.

[0019] Preferably, the blocking unit is further configured to temporarily block the delivery of digital content to the first screen and to partially block the delivery of digital content to the second screen. Temporarily blocking the delivery of digital content to the first screen means that no digital content is delivered to the first screen during the temporary block, while partially blocking the delivery of digital content to the second screen means that not all digital content that the terminal device can deliver is delivered to the second screen during the temporary partial block.For example, during the temporary partial blocking of digital content delivery to the second screen, only selected digital content could be displayed on the second screen. Selected digital content could include, for example, digital content related to specific functions of the end device. This could include information from information management functions such as time and date information, or entries from a digital address book, a digital calendar, or even digital to-do lists and reminders. Selected digital content could also include digital content related to communication functions, such as receiving and sending messages via email, SMS, or instant messaging.In this case, providing selected digital content could include, for example, providing text and image information from emails, SMS messages, or instant messages, as well as entering text information to create emails, SMS messages, or instant messages. It is also possible that during the temporary partial blocking of digital content provisioning on the second screen, selected digital content will not be provided on the second screen. Selected digital content that is not provided during the temporary partial blocking of digital content provisioning on the second screen could include digital content related to computer or video games, social media, or streaming services.In one example, the blocking unit could be activated by the control unit at an initial point in time to block the delivery of digital content to the first screen and partially block the delivery of digital content to the second screen. At a later point in time, the blocking unit could be deactivated by the control unit, thus removing the block on the delivery of digital content to both the first and second screens. In this example, the delivery of digital content to the first screen would be blocked during the period between the initial and second points in time, and the delivery of digital content to the second screen would be partially blocked during the same period, but not before the initial point in time and not after the second point in time.Blocking the delivery of digital content on the first screen and partially blocking its delivery on the second screen has the advantage of temporarily restricting the consumption of selected digital content to output devices different from the first and second screens. This further reduces the appeal of the available digital content and lowers the user's incentive to consume it. However, the delivery of digital content is not completely blocked, so essential functions of the device, for example, can still be used.

[0020] Preferably, the second screen is configured to display digital content using an e-paper display. For example, the second screen could be configured as an e-paper display. An e-paper display can be a reflective display or a passive, non-luminous display. Examples of reflective displays include electrophoretic displays, bistable liquid crystal displays, displays based on micro-electromechanical systems, displays based on variable photonic crystals, displays based on the electrowetting effect, displays based on the electrochromic effect, or displays based on controlled phase transitions. In particular, the second screen can be configured as an electrophoretic display. In general, electrophoretic displays provide visual information by moving charged particles using variable electrostatic fields.For example, electrophoretic microcapsule displays use electric fields to vertically move highly reflective or absorbing microparticles within a microcapsule. One or more such microcapsules form a pixel. For instance, the microcapsules can contain light and dark particles, with the light and dark particles being electrically charged and the charge of the light particles having the opposite sign to that of the dark particles. The light and dark particles can be dispersed in a nonpolar liquid. Depending on the polarity of an applied electric field, either only the light particles or only the dark particles are moved to the side of the microcapsule facing the user.If the polarity of the applied electric field is chosen, for example, such that the light particles are moved to the side of the microcapsule facing the user, the microcapsule will appear bright to the viewer when illuminated. Conversely, if the polarity of the applied electric field is chosen such that the dark particles are moved to the side of the microcapsule facing the user, the microcapsule will appear dark to the viewer when illuminated. Preferably, the second screen is designed as a monochrome electrophoretic display that can only reproduce visual information in grayscale. The first screen can be, for example, an LCD or OLED screen. In general, due to hardware limitations, e-paper screens can only provide digital content at a lower quality than, for example, conventional LCD or OLED screens.The advantage of providing digital content on a second screen using an e-paper display lies in the fact that the quality at which digital content can be displayed on an e-paper display is inherently lower than the quality at which digital content can be displayed on a conventional LCD or OLED screen. This further reduces the appeal of the digital content displayed on the second screen and further diminishes the incentive for users to consume this digital content.

[0021] In one embodiment, the blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the delivery of digital content to the first screen by disabling the first interface. In another embodiment, the blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the delivery of digital content to the second screen by disabling the second interface. The advantage of disabling interfaces to temporarily block the delivery of digital content is that it is more difficult for the end-device user to circumvent this block. In particular, disabling interfaces generally makes it more difficult for the end-device user to circumvent the delivery of digital content than conventional, software-based solutions for blocking the delivery of digital content.

[0022] In one embodiment, the blocking unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is communicatively connected to the computer unit via an interface, wherein the blocking unit is configured to instruct the computer unit not to provide any digital content on the first screen in order to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen. In another embodiment, the blocking unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is communicatively connected to the computer unit via an interface, wherein the blocking unit is configured to instruct the computer unit not to provide any digital content on the second screen in order to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the second screen.In another embodiment, the blocking unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is communicatively connected to the computer unit via an interface. The blocking unit is configured to instruct the computer unit to display only a limited selection of the digital content that the computer unit is capable of displaying on the second screen, thereby temporarily partially blocking the delivery of digital content to the second screen. For example, the blocking unit can be a standalone unit connected to the computer unit via a physical interface or a wireless connection. It is also possible for the blocking unit to be designed as software that is stored and executed on the computer unit.The advantage of an interface through which the blocking unit and the computer unit are connected, in conjunction with the blocking unit being configured to issue instructions to the computer unit for temporarily blocking the provision of digital content, is that such an embodiment can be implemented with little effort.

[0023] In one embodiment, the blocking unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is configured to block physical access to the first screen and / or visual access to the first screen in order to block the provision of digital content on the first screen. In another embodiment, the blocking unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is further configured to block physical access to the second screen and / or visual access to the second screen in order to block the provision of digital content on the second screen. Blocking physical access to a screen has the effect that the user of the terminal device no longer has unrestricted physical access to the screen.Blocking visual access to a screen means that the user of the device no longer has unrestricted visual access to the screen. Specifically, blocking physical and / or visual access to a screen can prevent the user from touching and / or seeing the portion of the screen used to display digital content. For example, physical and / or visual access to a screen can be blocked by covering the portion of the screen used to display digital content, thus preventing the user from touching and / or seeing that portion.In one example, the blocking unit can be configured so that, to block physical and / or visual access to the first and / or second screen, a portion of the blocking unit covers the first and / or second screen, preventing the user of the device from touching and / or seeing the portion of the first and / or second screen designed to display digital content. In another example, the blocking unit can be configured so that, to block physical and / or visual access to the first and / or second screen, a portion of the device is positioned by the blocking unit in such a way that this portion covers the first and / or second screen, preventing the user of the device from touching and / or seeing the portion of the first and / or second screen designed to display digital content.

[0024] The locking unit can be permanently connected to one or more other parts of the terminal device, in particular the computer unit, the first screen, the second screen, or the control unit. For example, the locking unit can be part of a mechanical device configured to connect the individual parts of the terminal device and move them relative to each other. In particular, the locking unit can be part of a mechanical device configured to connect the first and / or the second screen to the other parts of the terminal device or to each other screen and move them relative to each other. The locking unit can also itself be permanently connected to the other parts of the terminal device via a mechanical device, which can be configured to move the locking unit relative to the other parts of the terminal device.The mechanical device can be an independent part of the terminal device, a part of the blocking unit, or a part of the control unit. The mechanical device can also be configured to permanently and immovably connect the blocking unit to one or more parts of the terminal device, "immovably" meaning that the blocking unit cannot move relative to the part of the terminal device to which it is connected. However, the blocking unit can also be configured as a physically independent unit that is connected to one or more other parts of the terminal device, in particular the computer unit, the first screen, the second screen, or the control unit, if the provision of digital content on the first screen and / or the second screen is to be blocked by blocking physical and / or visual access to the first and / or the second screen.

[0025] Blocking physical and / or visual access to the first and / or second screen to prevent the delivery of digital content has the advantage that the blocking of digital content delivery is difficult for the end-device user to circumvent.

[0026] In one embodiment, the terminal device with at least two screens includes a third screen, wherein the computer unit is communicatively connected to the third screen via a third interface, the third screen being configured to provide only a limited selection of the digital content that can be provided by the computer unit, and wherein the provision of digital content on the third screen is not blocked by the blocking unit. The advantage of this embodiment is that the user of the terminal device still has access to a limited selection of the digital content that can be provided by the computer unit, even if access to the first and second screens is blocked.

[0027] If the terminal's blocking unit is configured to block physical and / or visual access to the first and / or second screen in order to prevent the delivery of digital content to the first and / or second screen, the terminal's blocking unit is preferably configured so that it can be manually destroyed by a user without tools in order to restore physical and / or visual access to the first and / or second screen without damaging the other components of the terminal. This configuration has the advantage that the terminal's user can restore full physical and visual access to the first and / or second screen in an emergency.At the same time, this configuration has the advantage that circumventing the block on the provision of digital content has irreversible consequences in the form of physical destruction of the blocking unit. This means that a user is less likely to circumvent the blocking unit by destruction than would be the case with a purely software-based solution.

[0028] In one embodiment, the control unit of the terminal device comprises an input device, wherein the input device is configured such that a user can enter one or more periods of time as input to control the blocking unit on the input device, wherein during the entered period or periods the control unit activates the blocking unit to block the provision of digital content on the first screen, or to block the provision of digital content on the first and second screens, or to block the provision of digital content on the first screen and partially block the provision of digital content on the second screen.The user of the device can use the input device to block the delivery of digital content on the first screen for a desired period, to block the delivery of digital content on both the first and second screens, or to block the delivery of digital content on the first screen and partially block the delivery of digital content on the second screen. For example, the user can enter a setting on the input device to block the delivery of digital content on the first screen for a specific period, such as one hour, two hours, or any number of hours.In another example, the user can enter a command at the input device to block the delivery of digital content on both the first and second screens for a specific period, such as one hour, two hours, or any number of hours. Alternatively, the user can enter a command at the input device to block the delivery of digital content on the first screen and partially block the delivery of digital content on the second screen for a specific period, such as one hour, two hours, or any number of hours.This offers the advantage that the user can decide whether and for how long the provision of digital content on at least one of the screens should be blocked or partially blocked in order to further reduce the attractiveness of the available digital content or to further restrict and reduce the consumption of the available digital content.

[0029] In a further embodiment, the control unit of the terminal device comprises an input interface, wherein the input interface is configured such that a second terminal device for controlling the blocking unit can be communicatively connected to the control unit, in particular via a wireless connection, wherein a user can enter a period or periods of time on the second terminal device as input for controlling the blocking unit, wherein during the entered period or periods of time the control unit activates the blocking unit to block the provision of digital content on the first screen, or to block the provision of digital content on the first and on the second screen, or to block the provision of digital content on the first screen and partially block the provision of digital content on the second screen.

[0030] The user of the second device thus has the option to block the delivery of digital content on the first screen for a desired period, to block the delivery of digital content on both the first and second screens, or to block the delivery of digital content on the first screen and partially block the delivery of digital content on the second screen. For example, the user of the second device can specify on the second device that the delivery of digital content on the first screen should be blocked for a certain period, such as one hour, two hours, or any number of hours.In another example, the user of the second device can specify on that device that the delivery of digital content should be blocked on both the first and second screens for a certain period, such as one hour, two hours, or any number of hours. In yet another example, the user of the second device can specify that the delivery of digital content should be blocked on the first screen for a certain period, such as one hour, two hours, or any number of hours, and that the delivery of digital content on the second screen should be partially blocked.This offers the advantage that the user of the second device can decide whether and for how long the provision of digital content on at least one of the screens should be blocked or partially blocked in order to further reduce the attractiveness of the available digital content or to further restrict and reduce its consumption. For example, the user of the device with at least two screens could be a minor, and the user of the second device could be a parent or legal guardian of that minor. In this case, the parent or legal guardian could decide whether and for how long the provision of digital content on at least one of the screens should be blocked or partially blocked.

[0031] In another embodiment, the terminal's control unit is configured to control the blocking unit based on usage parameters of the terminal with at least two screens. These usage parameters include: the identity of a terminal user, the age of a terminal user, the physical characteristics or movements of a terminal user, the duration of terminal use, the duration of terminal use per period, the duration of the provision of selected digital content on the terminal, the type and content of the digital content to be provided, the time of day, the intensity of the ambient light, the terminal's spatial position, or the terminal's spatial position relative to other terminals. In this embodiment, the two-screen terminal is configured to capture the corresponding usage parameters.For example, the device may have sensors configured to detect ambient light, the device's position, or its distance from other devices. Furthermore, the device may have sensors configured to determine a user's identity, age, physical characteristics, or movements.

[0032] In another embodiment, the terminal's control unit is configured to not accept any input for controlling the blocking unit during a blocking period. The start and duration of the blocking period can be entered by a user as input for controlling the blocking unit at the input device and / or the second terminal. For example, the user can enter at the input device that the provision of digital content on the first screen should be blocked for a specific period, for example, three hours, and that this input cannot be changed for a specific blocking period, for example, two hours.In one example, the user of the device could specify that within a certain period, such as one day, two days, or any number of days, the primary screen should only display digital content for a cumulative maximum duration, such as one hour, two hours, or any number of hours. Once this cumulative maximum duration is reached, the blocking unit would prevent the display of digital content on the primary screen. Furthermore, in this example, the user could also define a lockout period, such as one day, two days, or any number of days, during which the cumulative maximum duration for displaying digital content cannot be modified by any further input.In another example, the user of the device with at least two screens could be a minor, and the user of the second device could be a parent or legal guardian of that minor. In this case, the parent or legal guardian could decide whether and for how long the provision of digital content on at least one of the screens should be blocked or partially blocked, and whether and for how long this setting could be permanently changed. The ability to set a blocking period has the advantage that a user of the device can better reduce their consumption of digital content made available by that device, or that a user of a second device can better reduce their consumption of digital content made available by that device.

[0033] In one embodiment, the terminal's control unit comprises an authentication unit configured to verify whether a user of the terminal and / or the second terminal is authenticated, and to initiate an input to control the blocking unit. An input to control the blocking unit is only possible after the user or the second terminal has authenticated. Preferably, the authentication unit is configured to verify an authentication means to check whether the user of the terminal and / or the second terminal is authenticated, and to initiate an input to control the blocking unit. Authentication means may include a password, biometric features of a terminal user, a physical key, and / or a digital key. The use of an authentication unit has the advantage that no unauthorized input can be made to the control unit.In one example, the user of the device with at least two screens could be a minor who should not be able to make inputs at the control unit themselves. A legal guardian of the minor could therefore configure the device with at least two screens so that inputs at the control unit can only be made after authentication using an authentication method inaccessible to the minor. In this example, the minor would therefore not be able to decide for themselves whether and when the provision of digital content on one of the screens should be blocked or partially blocked.

[0034] In one embodiment, the control unit of the terminal device is configured to collect and store data for controlling the blocking unit and to provide this data to a user of the terminal device or to a user of a second terminal device.

[0035] In one embodiment, the terminal's computer unit can be communicatively connected via one or more interfaces to one or more screens different from the first and second screens, and the terminal's blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the screens different from the first and second screens. For example, the computer unit can be communicatively connected to the first screen via the first interface and to the second screen via the second interface, and may also have a further interface through which the computer unit could be communicatively connected to another screen different from the first and second screens.In this case, it is advantageous if the blocking unit can also block the provision of digital content on the screen different from the first and second screens, so that the user of the terminal device cannot circumvent the blocking of the provision of digital content.

[0036] In one embodiment, the computer unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is communicatively connectable via one or more interfaces to one or more further terminal devices different from the terminal device with at least two screens, wherein the further terminal devices are configured to provide digital content, wherein the further terminal devices are further configured to partially and / or completely block the provision of digital content by the further terminal devices, and wherein the computer unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is configured to instruct the further terminal devices to temporarily partially or completely block the provision of digital content by the further terminal devices when the blocking unit of the terminal device with at least two screens blocks the provision of digital content on the first screen.The delivery of digital content to the first and second screens is blocked, or the delivery of digital content to the first screen is blocked, and the delivery of digital content to the second screen is partially blocked. Blocking the delivery of digital content by other devices has the effect that while the delivery of digital content is blocked on the device with at least two screens, digital content cannot be delivered without restriction to the other devices. A user of the device with at least two screens cannot circumvent the blocking of digital content delivery by having the digital content delivered by other devices. This further reduces the consumption of disruptive digital content. For devices other than the device with at least two screens,Other end devices can include, for example, smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop PCs, televisions, and / or other devices with one or more screens. This makes it possible, for example, to synchronize the blocking of digital content across multiple devices.

[0037] In one embodiment, the control unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is communicatively connectable via one or more interfaces to one or more further terminal devices different from the terminal device with at least two screens, wherein the further terminal devices are configured to provide digital content, wherein one or more of the further terminal devices each comprise a blocking unit, wherein the blocking units of the further terminal devices are configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the respective further terminal device partially and / or completely, wherein the control unit of the terminal device with at least two screens is configured to receive inputs for controlling the blocking units of the further terminal devices and to control the blocking units of the further terminal devices according to the inputs for controlling the blocking units of the further terminal devices.Controlling the blocking units of the other devices has the effect that the control unit of the device with at least two screens can control the blocking units of the other devices in such a way that the provision of digital content by the other devices is temporarily partially or completely blocked. This further reduces the consumption of disruptive digital content. The other devices, which each contain a blocking unit and are different from the device with at least two screens, could, for example, be devices with at least two screens according to one of the embodiments described above. It is thus possible, for example, to synchronize the blocking of the provision of digital content across multiple devices.

[0038] The end device can be, for example, a smartphone, tablet computer, laptop computer or desktop PC.

[0039] The above-mentioned task is also solved by a method for providing digital content on an end device, especially for people with a media-related disorder, wherein the end device is an end device with at least two screens, and wherein the method comprises:

[0040] Processing digital content using a computer unit, wherein the computer unit is communicatively connected to a first screen via a first interface and wherein the computer unit is communicatively connected to a second screen via a second interface,

[0041] Providing the processed digital content on the first screen, where the first screen is configured to provide digital content in a first quality, and / or providing the processed digital content on the second screen, where the second screen is configured to provide digital content in a second quality, where the first quality is higher than the second quality.

[0042] Inputting control inputs for a blocking unit into a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to receive control inputs for the blocking unit and to control the blocking unit according to the control inputs for the blocking unit.

[0043] Control of the blocking unit by the control unit according to the inputs for controlling the blocking unit, wherein the blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen.

[0044] In one embodiment, the method for providing digital content on an end device with at least two screens further comprises:

[0045] Control of the blocking unit by the control unit according to the inputs for controlling the blocking unit, wherein the blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen and on the second screen.

[0046] In a further embodiment, the method for providing digital content on an end device with at least two screens further comprises:

[0047] Control of the blocking unit by the control unit according to the inputs for controlling the blocking unit, wherein the blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen and to partially block the provision of digital content on the second screen.

[0048] The aforementioned problem is further solved by a computer program for providing digital content on an end device with at least two screens, wherein the computer program includes program code means adapted to control an end device with at least two screens according to one of the embodiments described above such that the method for providing digital content on an end device with at least two screens according to one of the embodiments described above is carried out when the computer program is executed on the end device with at least two screens. The computer program preferably comprises several subroutines that interact to perform process steps. For example, in a corresponding embodiment, the computer program may include a subroutine that represents an implementation of the blocking unit or an implementation of the blocking unit and the control unit.Furthermore, the computer program can have several subprograms, some of which, in a corresponding embodiment, are executed on the terminal device with at least two screens, and others on a second terminal device that can be connected to the terminal device with at least two screens via an input interface.

[0049] Furthermore, the above-mentioned problem is solved by a control device for controlling the provision of digital content on at least two screens, wherein the control device comprises: a blocking unit, and a control unit, wherein the blocking unit and the control unit are configured to interact with a first screen, a second screen and a computer unit, and wherein the blocking unit, the control unit, the first screen, the second screen and the computer unit are adapted to form an end device with at least two screens according to one of the embodiments described above when the blocking unit, the control unit, the first screen, the second screen and the computer unit interact.

[0050] It should be understood that the terminal device with at least two screens for providing digital content according to claim 1, the method for providing digital content on a terminal device with at least two screens according to claim 10, the computer program for providing digital content on a terminal device with at least two screens according to claim 11, and the control device for controlling the provision of digital content on at least two screens according to claim 12 have similar or identical embodiments as defined in particular in the dependent claims.

[0051] In the following, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following figures, where Fig. 1 schematically and exemplarily shows the units of an end device with two screens for providing digital content,

[0052] Fig. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for providing digital content on a terminal device with at least two screens,

[0053] Fig. 3 schematically and exemplarily shows an embodiment of a terminal device with two screens,

[0054] Fig. 4A schematically and exemplarily shows another embodiment of a terminal device with at least two screens in one of several states,

[0055] Fig. 4B schematically and exemplarily shows the embodiment of an end device with at least two screens shown in Fig. 4A in a further of several states,

[0056] Fig. 4C schematically and exemplarily shows the embodiment of an end device with at least two screens shown in Fig. 4A in a further of several states,

[0057] Fig. 4D schematically and exemplarily shows the embodiment of an end device with at least two screens shown in Fig. 4A in a further of several states,

[0058] Fig. 5A schematically and exemplarily shows another embodiment of a terminal device with at least two screens in one of several states,

[0059] Fig. 5B schematically and exemplarily shows the embodiment of an end device with at least two screens shown in Fig. 5A in a further of several states, and

[0060] Fig. 5C schematically and by way of example shows the embodiment of an end device with at least two screens shown in Fig. 5A in a further of several states. Fig. 1 schematically and by way of example shows the components of an end device 10 with two screens for providing digital content. The end device 10 comprises a first screen 11, a second screen 12, and a computer unit 13, which is communicatively connected to the first screen 11 via a first interface 14 and communicatively connected to the second screen 12 via a second interface 15. The first screen 11 is configured to provide digital content in a first quality, and the second screen 12 is configured to provide digital content in a second quality, the first quality being higher than the second quality.The computer unit 13 can include a processor and interfaces that, for example, enable a connection of the terminal device 10 or the computer unit 13 to output devices and input devices, sensors, other terminal devices or networks.

[0061] The screens 11, 12 are electrical displays for providing digital content, such as displaying visual information in the form of images or videos. The screens 11, 12 can be displays that actively emit light, such as cathode ray tube displays, plasma displays, backlit liquid crystal displays (LCD displays), and LED displays, such as organic light-emitting diode displays (OLED displays). The screens 11, 12 can also be designed as passive, non-luminescent displays that reflect incident light, such as e-paper displays and, in particular, e-paper displays based on an electrophoretic display.

[0062] Screens 11 and 12 are configured to deliver digital content at different quality levels, with screen 11 configured to deliver digital content at a higher quality than screen 12. The evaluation of the quality of digital content delivery can depend, for example, on the specific use case of the terminal device 10, the type of digital content being delivered, and also on user requirements. However, if the same or similar digital content is delivered to two different screens, such as screens 11 and 12, objective criteria can be used to evaluate whether one screen delivers the digital content at a higher quality than the other. The following are some examples of an objective criterion for evaluating the quality of digital content delivery on screens 11 and 12.An objective criterion can be the size of the screens, where screen 11 provides digital content in higher quality than screen 12 if screen 11 is larger than screen 12. The size of a screen refers to the size of the screen area designed to display digital content. Another objective criterion can be the resolution of the screens, where screen 11 provides digital content in higher quality than screen 12 if screen 11 has a higher resolution than screen 12. The resolution of a screen refers, for example, to how many pixels can be displayed per unit area or how many pixels per unit area the screen has.Another objective criterion can be the screens' response time. Screen 11 will display digital content in higher quality than screen 12 if it has a faster response time. A screen's response time refers, for example, to how much time it takes for a screen to change color in a pixel. Another objective criterion can be the screens' refresh rate. Screen 11 will display digital content in higher quality than screen 12 if it has a higher refresh rate. The refresh rate refers, for example, to how many times per second the screen can display a new image.Another objective criterion can be the color reproduction of the screens, whereby screen 11 provides digital content in a higher quality than screen 12 if screen 11 reproduces multiple colors at different intensities and screen 12 only reproduces one color at different intensities. For example, screen 11 can be designed as an electronic display that can represent one or more pixels in different colors, i.e., different wavelengths or wavelength ranges of the emitted or reflected light, while screen 12 can, for example, be designed as an electronic display that predominantly represents one or more pixels in one color and can only change the intensity of the light emitted or reflected by the pixel(s).Another objective criterion can be the color depth of the screens, whereby screen 11 provides digital content in higher quality than screen 12 if screen 11 reproduces more color gradations than screen 12. For example, screen 11 can be designed as an electronic display that can represent one or more pixels in a greater number of different color gradations, i.e., different colors or wavelengths or wavelength ranges of the emitted or reflected light, than screen 12. Another objective criterion can be the occurrence of display artifacts, whereby screen 11 provides digital content in higher quality than screen 12 if fewer display artifacts occur on screen 11 than on screen 12.Examples of display artifacts include streaking or pronounced blurring when playing back videos, which occur when the response time of a screen is too slow to resolve movement in a video and / or when crosstalk occurs with neighboring pixels when addressing a pixel.

[0063] In one example, screen 11 can be designed as a commercially available LCD screen or OLED screen, while screen 12 can be designed as a commercially available e-paper screen based on an electrophoretic display.

[0064] Furthermore, the terminal 10 includes a blocking unit 16 and a control unit 17. The blocking unit 16 is configured to temporarily block the delivery of digital content to the first screen 11. The control unit 17 is configured to receive inputs to control the blocking unit 16 and to control the blocking unit 16 according to these inputs. Temporarily blocking the delivery of digital content to screen 11 means that during the blocking period, digital content can only be delivered to screen 12. For example, during the blocking period, the visual information that could be delivered to screen 11 can no longer be perceived by the user of the terminal 10.However, blocking the delivery of digital content can also include preventing the user of the terminal device 10 from making any further inputs on screen 11 if screen 11, such as a standard touchscreen, is configured as both an output and input device. Furthermore, the blocking unit 16 can be configured to temporarily block the delivery of digital content on screens 11 and 12, or to temporarily block the delivery of digital content on screen 11 and partially block the delivery of digital content on screen 12. The control unit 17 is configured to receive inputs for controlling the blocking unit 16. For example, an input to the control unit 17 can define a period during which the delivery of digital content should be blocked, as well as a start time for this period.The control unit 17 is further configured to control the blocking unit 16 according to the inputs. For example, the control unit 17 can activate the blocking unit at the start time to block the provision of digital content on the screen 11, and deactivate it after the period has elapsed to no longer block the provision of digital content on the screen 11. The blocking unit 16 can be configured as a standalone unit that is permanently connected to one or more other parts of the terminal device 10, in particular the computer unit 13, the screen 11, the screen 12, or the control unit 17.The blocking unit 16 can also be configured as a standalone unit that is connected to one or more other parts of the terminal device 10, in particular the computer unit 13, the screen 11, the screen 12, or the control unit 17, when the provision of digital content is to be blocked. The control unit 17 can also be configured as a standalone unit that is permanently connected to one or more other parts of the terminal device 10, in particular the computer unit 13, the screen 11, the screen 12, or the blocking unit 16. The control unit 17 can also be configured as a standalone unit that is connected to one or more other parts of the terminal device 10, in particular the computer unit 13, the screen 11, the screen 12, or the blocking unit 16, when the provision of digital content is to be blocked.The blocking unit 16 and / or the control unit 17 can also be part of other parts of the terminal device 10, in particular part of the computer unit 13, the screen 11 or the screen 12. For example, the blocking unit 16 and / or the control unit 17 can be designed as software that is stored and executed on the computer unit 13.

[0065] Fig. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for providing digital content on an end device with at least two screens, wherein the end device can be, for example, the end device 10, as described above in conjunction with Fig. 1. In a first step 101, digital content is processed by the computer unit 13. In a further step 102, the processed digital content is provided on screen 11 and / or screen 12. In a further step 103, inputs for controlling the blocking unit 16 are entered into the control unit 17. In a further step 104, the blocking unit 16 is controlled by the control unit 17 to block the provision of digital content on screen 11.In a further embodiment, in step 104 the blocking unit 16 can be controlled by the control unit 17 to block the provision of digital content on screens 11 and 12. In a further embodiment, in step 104 the blocking unit 16 can be controlled by the control unit 17 to block the provision of digital content on screen 11 and to partially block the provision of digital content on screen 12.

[0066] The invention will now be explained with reference to further embodiments described in detail. Fig. 3 schematically and by way of example shows an embodiment of an end device with two screens. In this example, the end device is a mobile phone or smartphone 30 with a first screen 31 on the side of the smartphone 30 facing the viewer and a second screen 32 on the side of the smartphone 30 facing away from the viewer. The screen 31 is a commercially available LCD or OLED screen suitable for displaying images and videos in different colors and having a refresh rate of at least 50 Hz.Screen 32 is a standard e-paper display based on an electrophoretic indicator. Due to its hardware limitations, it cannot display images and videos in different colors, but only in grayscale, and has a lower refresh rate than screen 31. Due to these hardware limitations, display artifacts, such as streaks or pronounced blurring, may occur, particularly when playing videos on screen 32. Furthermore, the smartphone 30 may include additional elements not shown in Fig. 3. These additional elements include, for example, a module that enables a wireless internet connection, a module that enables a mobile network connection, input and output devices for audio and / or video signals, various sensors and other input devices, interfaces, processors, memory units, and a battery.One or both of the screens 31, 32 can, for example, be designed as touchscreens and therefore be both output and input devices.

[0067] The smartphone 30 can be operated in different modes. In one mode, hereinafter referred to as Mode 0, both screens 31 and 32 are switched on, so that both screens 31 and 32 can display digital content. In another mode, hereinafter referred to as Mode 1, screen 31, i.e., the LCD or OLED screen, is switched off, so that the user can only use screen 32, i.e., the e-paper screen. In another mode, hereinafter referred to as Mode 2, both screens 31 and 32 are switched off. In a further mode, hereinafter referred to as Mode 3 or Super Saver Mode, screen 31 is switched off, and only selected digital content can be displayed on screen 32.These selected digital content items include, for example, digital content provided by a phone application, a messaging application, or an address book application. Also included is a display showing the remaining time in Mode 3, or Super Saver mode. The different modes are operated either via the smartphone's processor or via a separate hardware architecture that has access to one or more of the smartphone's components, such as the module that enables a wireless internet connection, the module that enables a mobile network connection, the input and output devices for audio and / or video signals, the various sensors and other input devices, interfaces, and the storage units.If the different modes are operated via the smartphone's processor 30, a corresponding computer program can be installed on the smartphone, which then corresponds to a blocking unit or to a blocking unit and a control unit. If the different modes are operated via a separate hardware architecture, the separate hardware architecture corresponds to a blocking unit or to a blocking unit and a control unit.

[0068] The different modes, in particular Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3, can be activated by user input on an input device of the control unit, for example, by pressing one or more physical buttons or buttons displayed on one of the screens 31, 32, or by turning a rotary dial. For example, pressing a button displayed on a screen once or turning the rotary dial can trigger the display of a time input on one of the screens 31, 32. The user of the smartphone 30 can now enter a period during which Mode 1 will be activated. During this period, the provision of digital content on screen 31 is blocked by turning off screen 31.If the smartphone 30 is already in Mode 1, a single press of a button displayed on a screen or a turn of the rotary dial will trigger the display of a time input on one of the screens 31 or 32. The user of the smartphone 30 can then enter a period of time during which Mode 2 or Mode 3 will be activated. During this period, the provision of digital content on screens 31 and 32 will be blocked by turning off screens 31 and 32 (Mode 2), or the provision of digital content on screen 31 will be blocked by turning off screen 31, and the provision of digital content on screen 32 will be partially blocked by only displaying selected digital content on screen 32 (Mode 3 or Super Saver Mode).For example, in Mode 1 and / or Mode 2, a blocking unit can deactivate the interfaces that allow video signal output. The fact that the Smartphone 30 allows a user to define a period during which the Smartphone 30 operates in a specific mode can also be described as self-management. Self-management access can be protected by an authentication unit that verifies common authentication methods, such as a password, fingerprint, or optical identification. However, it is also possible that the Smartphone 30 allows not only every user of the Smartphone 30 itself, but also or exclusively other individuals, such as users of a second Smartphone or users who possess a specific authentication method, to define a period during which the Smartphone 30 operates in a specific mode.This state can also be referred to as remote management. For example, it is possible that remote management can only be activated or controlled via a wireless connection, such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection. It is also possible that remote management can only be activated or controlled when a physical device containing a digital key is inserted into the device via an interface, or when a data carrier with a digital key is connected via a wired interface. Furthermore, it is possible to set a predefined time limit for switching the operation of the smartphone 30 to a specific mode, such as an hourly, daily, or weekly limit while switched on. Once the time limit has expired, i.e., when the smartphone 30 has been used beyond the predefined time limit, it switches to a different mode.For example, after using smartphone 30 in mode 0, the smartphone 30 could switch to mode 1 after a predefined time limit has elapsed, thus turning off the screen 31. This state can also be described as planned self-management if the time limit can be set by the user of smartphone 30. This state can also be part of external management if the time limit cannot be set by every user of the smartphone themselves, but also or exclusively by other people, such as users of a second smartphone or users who possess a specific means of authentication. Furthermore, smartphone 30 can be configured to collect data on its usage in the different modes.This data can, for example, be provided to a user of the smartphone 30 or sent to users of other devices, for example the legal guardian of the user of the smartphone 30.

[0069] Switching between the operating modes of the smartphone 30 can also be triggered or controlled by other usage parameters. For example, the smartphone 30 might have facial recognition. If a child who is too young uses the smartphone 30, it automatically switches to Mode 2, turning off both screens 31 and 32 and no longer displaying any digital content on them. In another example, the smartphone 30 could be configured to switch to Mode 1 or Mode 2 based on the user's identity. In yet another example, the smartphone 30 might switch to Mode 1 if a specific computer program is run for too long on the smartphone 30 or if problematic digital content is accessed. Problematic digital content could include videos, computer games, pornographic content, or access to gambling.In another example, the smartphone switches between mode 1, mode 2, and mode 3 depending on the ambient light and / or time of day—for example, in bright ambient light, dim ambient light, during the day, or at night. In another example, the smartphone can detect body characteristics, movements, or the user's distance from the smartphone and switch between mode 1, mode 2, and mode 3 accordingly. In yet another example, the smartphone can determine its own spatial position or its position relative to other devices and switch between mode 1, mode 2, and mode 3 depending on this position or its position relative to other devices. For example, the smartphone could switch to mode 1 if the user is using it in a school.The smartphone could also switch to mode 1 if a teacher's device is within a certain distance of the smartphone 30, or the smartphone 30 could switch to mode 1, mode 2 or mode 3 if a device belonging to the user's guardian is outside a certain distance of the smartphone 30.

[0070] Another possible embodiment of the invention is a laptop computer with a double-sided display unit, i.e., a display unit comprising two different screens. Such a laptop computer differs from the smartphone 30 primarily in its slightly different design. Functionally, however, the laptop computer with a double-sided display unit and the smartphone 30 are very similar. In particular, the preceding descriptions of the different modes in which the smartphone 30 can be operated can be applied to the laptop computer with a double-sided display unit. The laptop computer can therefore be operated in a specific mode, as described above for the smartphone 30, for example, Mode 0, Mode 1, Mode 2, or Mode 3.

[0071] In the previous examples, namely the smartphone 30 and the laptop computer, blocking the provision of digital content was achieved, for example, by switching off a screen or deactivating a corresponding interface. Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also possible to block the provision of digital content by blocking physical access to a screen and / or blocking visual access to a screen. This can be achieved, for example, by a blocking device in the form of a physical locking mechanism that, controlled for a predetermined period, such as by a control unit in the form of a time lock, blocks physical and / or visual access to one or more screens.A locking mechanism allows a device with two different screens to operate in different modes, similar to the modes described above for the smartphone 30 and the laptop computer. In one mode, referred to below as Lock Mode 0, both screens are freely accessible. In another mode, referred to below as Lock Mode 1, access to the screen capable of displaying higher-quality digital content is restricted by the locking mechanism. In yet another mode, referred to below as Lock Mode 2, access to both screens is restricted by the locking mechanism. Optionally, the device can include an additional unit with output and input devices that remain accessible even in Lock Mode 2. The output and input devices of this additional unit can be a third screen, for example, a touchscreen, and / or buttons.The additional unit accessible in shutter mode 2 can, due to hardware limitations, only provide selected digital content. This selected digital content includes, for example, digital content provided by a phone application, a messaging application, or an address book application. Furthermore, the selected digital content includes a display that shows the remaining time in shutter mode 2. This state is therefore similar to mode 3, or super-protection mode, described above for the smartphone 30 and the laptop computer. The different shutter modes, in particular shutter mode 1 and shutter mode 2, can be activated by user input on an input device of the control unit, for example, by pressing one or more physical buttons, buttons displayed on one of the screens, or by turning a rotary dial.For example, pressing a button displayed on a screen once, or turning the rotary dial, can trigger the display of a time entry on one of the screens. The user of the device can then enter a period during which Lock Mode 1 is activated. If the device is already in Lock Mode 1, pressing a button displayed on a screen once, or turning the rotary dial, can trigger the display of a time entry on one of the screens. The user of the device can then enter a period during which Lock Mode 2 is activated. Optionally, a blocking unit in the form of a physical locking device can be configured so that it can be manually destroyed by a user without tools, allowing it to be opened in an emergency to restore full access to the device.

[0072] The following are concrete examples of terminal devices with a blocking unit in the form of a physical locking device, illustrated with figures.

[0073] Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D schematically and exemplarily show an embodiment of an end device with two screens in different states. In this example, the end device is a mobile phone or smartphone 40 with a first screen 41 and a second screen 42. As shown in Figure 4A, the smartphone 40 comprises two units 43 and 44, with screen 41 being part of unit 43 and screen 42 being part of unit 44. The two units 43 and 44 are connected to each other via a hinge and swivel mechanism 49. Screen 41 is a commercially available LCD or OLED screen suitable for displaying images and videos in various colors and, for example, having a refresh rate of at least 50 Hz.The screen 42 is a commercially available e-paper screen based on an electrophoretic display. Due to its hardware limitations, it cannot display images and videos in different colors, but only in grayscale, and has a lower refresh rate than the screen 41. Due to these hardware limitations, display artifacts, such as streaks or pronounced blurring, may occur, particularly when playing videos on the screen 42. Furthermore, the smartphone 40 may include additional elements not shown in Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. These additional elements include, for example, a module that enables a wireless internet connection, a module that enables a mobile network connection, input and output devices for audio and / or video signals, various sensors and other input devices, interfaces, processors, memory units, and a battery.One or both of the screens 41, 42 can, for example, be configured as touchscreens and therefore serve as both output and input devices. Optionally, another unit can be attached to the back 48 of the screen 42, i.e., on the side of the unit 44 opposite the screen 42. This unit may include a third screen, for example, a touchscreen, and / or buttons. The smartphone 40 can be operated in different locking modes. In locking mode 0, as shown in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4C, both screens 41, 42 are freely accessible, allowing both screens to display digital content. Fig. 4B shows the smartphone 40 in locking mode 1. In locking mode 1, the folding and rotating mechanism 49 is used to fold the unit 44 onto the unit 43, starting from the configuration shown in Fig. 4A, so that the unit 44 covers the screen 41.In Lock Mode 1, physical and visual access to the screen 41 is blocked by a locking unit in the form of the folding and rotating device 49 in conjunction with the unit 44 of the smartphone 40. A control unit, for example in the form of a lock or time lock, locks the folding and rotating device 49 and prevents it from being unlocked without a suitable key or before the expiry of a predetermined period, thus preventing the restoration of physical and visual access to the screen 41. However, unrestricted access to the screen 42 is still guaranteed in Lock Mode 1. Therefore, the provision of digital content on the screen 42 is not blocked in Lock Mode 1. As can be seen in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4C, the folding and rotating device 49 allows not only a folding movement but also a rotating movement in Lock Mode 0: While in Fig.In Fig. 4A, the back 48 of the screen 42 faces the viewer, while in Fig. 4C, the front of the screen 42 faces the viewer. Both Fig. 4A and Fig. 4C show the smartphone 40 in shutter mode 0, as both screens 41 and 42 are freely accessible. Fig. 4D shows the smartphone 40 in shutter mode 2. In shutter mode 2, the folding and rotating device 49 is used to fold the unit 44 onto the unit 43, starting from the configuration shown in Fig. 4C, so that the units 43 and 44 enclose and cover the screens 41 and 42. Thus, in shutter mode 2, physical and visual access to both the screen 41 and the screen 42 is blocked by a blocking unit in the form of the folding and rotating device 49 in conjunction with the units 43 and 44 of the smartphone 40.A control unit, for example in the form of a lock or time lock, locks the hinged and rotating device 49 and prevents it from being unlocked without a suitable key or before the expiry of a predetermined period, thus preventing physical and visual access to the screens 41, 42 from being restored. In locking mode 2, access is therefore only guaranteed to the optional additional unit, which can be mounted on the back 48 of the screen 42. However, due to hardware limitations, the additional unit still accessible in locking mode 2 can only provide selected digital content. Another embodiment of an end device with at least two screens in different states is shown in Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B and Fig. 5C. In this example, the end device is a laptop computer 50. As shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 5A, the laptop computer 50 consists of three units: a first screen 51, a second screen 52, and a base housing 53, which are connected to each other via hinges 59, 59'. The screen 51 is a standard LCD or OLED screen suitable for displaying images and videos in various colors and has, for example, a refresh rate of at least 50 Hz. The screen 52 is a standard e-paper screen based on an electrophoretic display, which, due to its hardware limitations, cannot display images and videos in different colors, but only in grayscale, and has a lower refresh rate than the screen 51. Due to these hardware limitations, display artifacts, such as streaks or pronounced blurring, may occur, particularly when playing videos on the screen 52.Furthermore, the laptop computer can comprise 50 additional elements not shown in Figs. 5A, 5B, and 5C. These additional elements include, for example, a module enabling a wireless internet connection, input and output devices for audio and / or video signals, various sensors and other input devices, interfaces, processors, memory units, and a battery. In particular, input devices such as a keyboard and / or a touchpad are preferably arranged in the base housing 53. One or both of the screens 51, 52 can also be designed as touchscreens and therefore function as both output and input devices.

[0074] The laptop computer 50 can be operated in different locking modes. In locking mode 0, as shown in Fig. 5A, the screen 51 is freely accessible, allowing it to display digital content. Fig. 5B shows the laptop computer 50 in locking mode 1. In locking mode 1, the folding device 59 is used to fold the screen 52 onto the screen 51, starting from the configuration shown in Fig. 5A, so that the screen 52 covers the screen 51. Thus, in locking mode 1, physical and visual access to the screen 51 is blocked by a blocking unit in the form of the folding device 59 in conjunction with the screen 52 of the laptop computer 50.A control unit, for example in the form of a lock or time lock, locks the folding device 59 and prevents it from being unlocked without a suitable key or before the expiration of a predetermined period, thus preventing physical and visual access to the screen 51 from being restored. However, in locking mode 1, unrestricted access to screen 52 is ensured. Therefore, the provision of digital content to screen 52 is not blocked in locking mode 1. Fig. 5C shows the laptop computer 50 in locking mode 2. In locking mode 2, the folding device 59' is used, starting from the configuration shown in Fig. 5B, to fold the screens 51 and 52 onto the base housing 53 in such a way that both screens 51 and 52 are enclosed and concealed.In Lock Mode 2, physical and visual access to both screen 51 and screen 52 is blocked by a locking unit in the form of the hinges 59, 59' in conjunction with the screens 51, 52 of the laptop computer 50. A control unit, for example in the form of a lock or time lock, locks the hinge 59' and prevents it from being unlocked without a suitable key or before a predetermined period has elapsed, thus preventing the restoration of physical and visual access to screens 51, 52. Optionally, another unit could be attached to the back 58 of screen 51, which remains accessible in Lock Mode 2. However, this additional unit, accessible in Lock Mode 2, may, due to hardware limitations, only provide selected digital content.

[0075] Another embodiment of an end device with at least two screens is a laptop computer which, in addition to a base housing comparable to the base housing 53 described above, has a top section without a permanently installed screen. Instead, the top section has a frame into which a mobile display unit with two screens can be inserted. Furthermore, the laptop computer has interfaces through which the display unit can be communicatively connected to the base housing.The mobile display unit comprises two screens. One side of the mobile display unit features a standard LCD or OLED screen capable of displaying images and videos in various colors. The other side features a standard e-paper screen, which, due to its hardware limitations, can only display images and videos in grayscale and not in different colors. Depending on how the user inserts the mobile display unit into the opaque top of the laptop computer, they will have access to either the LCD or OLED screen (similar to shutter mode 0 described above) or the e-paper screen (similar to shutter mode 1 described above).Furthermore, the frame in the upper part of the laptop computer is configured so that the mobile screen unit can be enclosed, and, for example, removal of the display unit is only possible after a predetermined period of time. Preferably, in this embodiment, the mobile screen unit is designed so that the two screens can be separated in the middle, and the screen not installed in the upper part of the laptop computer can be used as a second screen.

[0076] Another embodiment of the present invention relates to an end device with a commercially available LCD or OLED screen, wherein the LCD or OLED screen can be covered by a cover device to block the display of digital content on the LCD or OLED screen. The cover device can, for example, be in the form of a suitable case into which the LCD or OLED screen can be inserted. The case is designed to completely block physical and visual access to the LCD or OLED screen. In this example, the case has a locking mechanism that cannot be opened for a predetermined period or that can only be opened after verification of an authentication device.The cover can incorporate an e-paper screen, either permanently installed or removable. Furthermore, such a cover can have interfaces to redirect the video signal from the device whose LCD or OLED screen is covered, for example, to another external LCD or OLED screen. Similar to the different modes in the case of the smartphone 40 described above, the blocking unit, in the form of a cover, could either allow or block the transmission of the video signal to the external screen.

[0077] Although certain embodiments have been described above, the terminal device can also be configured differently. In particular, other embodiments of blocking units according to the present invention are also possible, with which the provision of digital content on a screen can be blocked. For example, in a terminal device with at least two screens, one or both screens can be covered with a blocking unit in the form of a tintable glass pane. Tinted glass panes, also known as smart glass, offer the advantage that visual access to the screen behind them can be blocked without moving parts by adjusting the opacity of the tintable glass pane accordingly.

[0078] Although the embodiments described above relate to smartphones and laptop computers, an end device according to the present invention can also be realized as a differently designed end device.Although in the embodiments described above the terminal devices comprise a computer unit, a first screen, a second screen, a blocking unit and a control unit, the above-mentioned problem is also solved by a control device for controlling the provision of digital content on at least two screens, wherein the control device comprises a blocking unit and a control unit and wherein the blocking unit and the control unit are configured to interact with a first screen, a second screen and a computer unit, wherein the blocking unit, the control unit, the first screen, the second screen and the computer unit are adapted to form a terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 when the blocking unit, the control unit, the first screen, the second screen and the computer unit interact.

[0079] In the claims, the words "comprising" and "encompassing" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or device can perform the functions of several elements listed in the claims. The fact that individual functions and elements are listed in different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these functions or elements could not also be advantageously used.

[0080] One or more units of the described terminal device with at least two screens for providing digital content, in particular the blocking unit and the control unit, as well as the described method for providing digital content on a terminal device with at least two screens, can be implemented as program code of a computer program or several computer programs and / or as corresponding hardware. A corresponding computer program or parts thereof can be stored and / or distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state storage medium, which is distributed together with or as part of other hardware. However, the computer program can also be distributed in other forms, for example, via the Internet or other telecommunications systems.The reference numerals in the claims are not to be understood as limiting the subject matter and scope of protection of the claims. The word "in particular" is to be understood as optional. For example, the wording "E-paper screens and in particular E-paper screens based on an electrophoretic display" means that the screens can be E-paper screens based on an electrophoretic display, but alternatively also E-paper screens based on another display technology.

[0081] The invention relates to an end device with at least two screens for providing digital content, particularly for users with a media-related disorder. The end device comprises a first screen and a second screen. The first screen is configured to provide digital content in a first quality, and the second screen is configured to provide digital content in a second quality, the first quality being higher than the second quality. Furthermore, the end device comprises a computer unit, a blocking unit, and a control unit. The blocking unit is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen, and the control unit is configured to receive inputs for controlling the blocking unit and to control the blocking unit according to these inputs.

Claims

Claims 1. Terminal device with at least two screens for providing digital content, especially for users with a media-related disorder, wherein the terminal device (10) comprises: a first screen (11) wherein the first screen (11) is configured to provide digital content in a first quality, a second screen (12) wherein the second screen (12) is configured to provide digital content in a second quality, the first quality being higher than the second quality, a computer unit (13) wherein the computer unit (13) is communicatively connected to the first screen (11) via a first interface (14) and wherein the computer unit (13) is communicatively connected to the second screen (12) via a second interface (15), a blocking unit (16) wherein the blocking unit (16) is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen (11),and a control unit (17), wherein the control unit (17) is configured to receive inputs for controlling the blocking unit (16) and to control the blocking unit (16) according to the inputs for controlling the blocking unit (16).

2. Terminal device with at least two screens according to claim 1, wherein the blocking unit (16) is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen (11) and on the second screen (12).

3. Terminal device with at least two screens according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blocking unit (16) is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen (11) and to partially block the provision of digital content on the second screen (12).

4. Terminal device with at least two screens according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second screen (12) is configured to provide digital content via an e-paper screen.

5. Terminal device with at least two screens according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blocking unit (16) is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen (11) by disabling the first interface (14).

6. Terminal device with at least two screens according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blocking unit (16) is communicatively connected to the computer unit (13) via an interface and wherein the blocking unit (16) is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen (11) and to instruct the computer unit (13) not to provide any digital content on the first screen.

7. Terminal device with at least two screens according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blocking unit (16) is configured to block the provision of digital content on the first screen (11), to block physical access to the first screen and / or to block visual access to the first screen (11).

8. Terminal device with at least two screens according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (17) comprises an input device, wherein the input device is configured such that a user can enter one or more periods of time as input to control the blocking unit (16) on the input device, wherein during the entered period or periods the control unit (17) activates the blocking unit (16) in order to - to block the delivery of digital content to the first screen (11), or - to block the provision of digital content on the first (11) and second screen (12), or - to block the provision of digital content on the first screen (11) and to partially block the provision of digital content on the second screen (12, 32).

9. Terminal device with at least two screens according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (17) is configured to control the blocking unit (16) depending on usage parameters of the terminal device (10) with at least two screens, wherein usage parameters include: an identity of a user of the terminal device, an age of a user of the terminal device, physical characteristics or movements of a user of the terminal device, a duration of use of the terminal device, a duration of use of the terminal device per period, a duration of provision of selected digital content on the terminal device, a duration of provision of selected digital content on the terminal device per period, type and content of the digital content to be provided, a time, an intensity of ambient light, a spatial position of the terminal device or a spatial position of the terminal device relative to other terminal devices.

10. Method for providing digital content on an end device, in particular for people with a media-related disorder, wherein the end device (10) is an end device with at least two screens according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and wherein the method comprises: Processing digital content using a computer unit (13), wherein the computer unit (13) is communicatively connected to a first screen (11) via a first interface (14) and wherein the computer unit (13) is communicatively connected to a second screen (12) via a second interface (15), Providing the processed digital content on the first screen (11), wherein the first screen (11) is configured to provide digital content in a first quality, and / or providing the processed digital content on the second screen (12), wherein the second screen (12) is configured to provide digital content in a second quality, the first quality being higher than the second quality. Input of inputs for controlling a blocking unit (16) into a control unit (17), wherein the control unit (17) is configured to receive inputs for controlling the blocking unit (16) and to control the blocking unit (16) according to the inputs for controlling the blocking unit (16), Control of the blocking unit (16) by the control unit (17) according to the inputs for controlling the blocking unit (16), wherein the blocking unit (16) is configured to temporarily block the provision of digital content on the first screen (11).

11. Computer program for providing digital content on an end device with at least two screens, in particular for people with a media-related disorder, wherein the computer program comprises program code means adapted to control an end device (10) with at least two screens according to any one of claims 1 to 9 such that the method for providing digital content on an end device with at least two screens according to claim 10 is carried out when the computer program is executed on the end device (10) with at least two screens.

12. Control device for controlling the provision of digital content on at least two screens, in particular for users with a media-related disorder, wherein the control device comprises: a blocking unit, and a control unit, wherein the blocking unit and the control unit are configured to interact with a first screen, a second screen and a computer unit, wherein the blocking unit, the control unit, the first screen, the second screen and the computer unit are adapted to form an end device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 when the blocking unit, the control unit, the first screen, the second screen and the computer unit interact.

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