Method and system for streaming with rewards tracking

A streaming device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions,
• wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the streaming device to:
• receive streaming content of at least one content item from a content provider;
• output, via an application being executed on the streaming device, the streaming content to a display connected to the streaming device for playback of the streaming content;
• generate, periodically by a second application being executed on the streaming device, a plurality of status messages during execution of the application, each status message being timestamped and comprising:
• a header containing information about the content item;
• and
• one or more entries indicating one or more playback states regarding the output of the streaming content;
• wherein a current playback state further includes a controller state indicating whether a controller associated with the streaming device is in:
• a streaming mode wherein the controller provides controls for streaming content;
• or
• a gaming mode wherein the controller provides controls for games;
• and
• whether the controller is actively in use;
• transmit the plurality of status messages to a user engagement tracking device connected to the streaming device;
• and
• receive a notification indicating a total duration of content output to the display during execution of the application, the total duration of output content being determined by the user engagement tracking device based at least in part on the controller state being in the streaming mode or the gaming mode, as indicated in the status message.

A system for tracking rewards related to content streaming, the system comprising:

• a streaming device;
• and
• a user engagement tracking device in communication with the streaming device,
• wherein the streaming device is configured to:
• receive streaming content of at least one content item from a content provider;
• output, via an application being executed on the streaming device, the streaming content to a display connected to the streaming device for playback of the streaming content;
• generate, periodically by a second application being executed on the streaming device, a plurality of status messages during execution of the application, each status message being timestamped and comprising:
• a header containing information about the content item;
• and
• one or more entries indicating one or more playback states regarding the output of the streaming content;
• wherein a current playback state further includes a controller state indicating whether a controller associated with the streaming device is in:
• a streaming mode wherein the controller provides controls for streaming content;
• or
• a gaming mode wherein the controller provides controls for games;
• and
• transmit the plurality of status messages to the user engagement tracking device,
• wherein the user engagement tracking device is configured to:
• determine a total duration of output content during execution of the application, based on the plurality of status messages based at least in part on the controller state being in the streaming mode or the gaming mode, as indicated in the plurality of status messages.