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.