Automatic tracking of usage of a software application having different versions

Abstract

A method for automatically tracking application and content usage is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method first recites the step of accessing an application interface (API) call with a parameter specifying a first portion of content to be measured. For example, the amount of time for which the portion of content is used is measured. Next the method recites, in response to the accessed call, measuring usage for the first portion of content. Then, the method recites continuing to access API calls specifying additional portions of content to be measured until the program making the calls finishes execution. In this fashion, content usage is tracked. Application developers may determine, from the content usage, where users are getting stuck in a game or what segments of an electronic document are being viewed.

1 . A computer implemented method of tracking user progress in a software application executing on a processor of an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
 using a processor of an electronic device to execute a monitor program to:   access a first application program interface (API) call from a software application executing on the processor,   wherein the first API call provides a content descriptor and a request to start measuring an amount of usage of the software application and a user progress identifying the amount of usage of the software application by a user;   increment a usage measure until receiving a second API call from the software application requesting to stop the measuring; and   store the usage measure and the content descriptor in a computer readable medium coupled to the electronic device.   
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the content descriptor identifies information selected from a group comprising levels of a game, segments in an electronic document, and web pages. 
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein the measure of user progress describes percent usage of the software application by the user. 
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: associating a unique identifier with the software application that identifies a program version. 
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method according to clam  1 , further comprising the steps of:
 transferring the usage measure to a repository; and   tabulating and reporting the usage measure.   
   
   
       6 . A computer implemented method of tracking user progress in a software application executing on a processor of an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
 using a processor of an electronic device to execute an operating system to:   access a first application program interface (API) call from a software application, the software application executed by the operating system,   wherein the first API call:
 provides a content descriptor and a request to start measuring an amount of usage of the software application and a user progress identifying the amount of usage of the software application by a user; and 
 contains the request to measure the user progress; said operating system 
   increment the usage measure until receiving a second API call from the software application requesting to stop the measuring; and   store the usage measure and the content descriptor in a computer readable medium coupled to the electronic device.   
   
   
       7 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 6 , wherein the content descriptor identifies information selected from a group comprising levels of a game, segments in an electronic document, and web pages. 
   
   
       8 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 6 , wherein the measure of user progress describes percent usage of the software application by the user. 
   
   
       9 . The computer implemented method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of: associating a unique identifier with the software application that identifies a program version. 
   
   
       10 . The computer implemented method according to clam  6 , further comprising the steps of:
 transferring the usage measure to a repository; and   tabulating and reporting the usage measure.