Activity popups over incoming call screen

Question

I'm trying to override the incoming call screen - I know I can't change it so I'm trying to popup an activity ontop.

My code works fine except when the phone has been idle for a few minutes.

My code:

AndroidManifest.xml :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
      package="com.example.myfirstapp"
      android:versionCode="7"
      android:versionName="7">
    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="7" android:targetSdkVersion="10"></uses-sdk>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MODIFY_PHONE_STATE"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CALL_PHONE" />

    <application android:label="@string/app_name" android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher">
        <receiver android:name=".MyPhoneBroadcastReceiver" android:enabled="true">
            <intent-filter android:priority="99999">
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.PHONE_STATE" />
            </intent-filter>
        </receiver>
        <activity
            android:name=".Call" >
        </activity>
    </application>
</manifest>

MyPhoneBroadcastReceiver.java:

public class MyPhoneBroadcastReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver{

    public void onReceive(final Context context, Intent intent) {

        Thread pageTimer = new Thread(){
            public void run(){
                try{
                    sleep(700);
                } catch (InterruptedException e){
                    e.printStackTrace();
                } finally {
                    Intent i = new Intent();
                    i.setClass(context, Call.class);
                    i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
                    i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
                    i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_REORDER_TO_FRONT);  
                    i.addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SHOW_WHEN_LOCKED);
                    i.putExtra("INCOMING_NUMBER", incomingNumber);
                    i.setAction(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
                    i.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_LAUNCHER);
                    context.startActivity(i);
                }
            }
        };
        pageTimer.start();
    }
}

Call.java:

package com.example.myfirstapp;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;

public class Call extends Activity{
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        getWindow(). addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SHOW_WHEN_LOCKED);
        getWindow().addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_REORDER_TO_FRONT);
        getWindow().addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
    }
}

BTW - I tried waiting for the screen to wake up before the sleep(700) and it didn't help (in MyPhoneBroadcastReceiver.java)

...
try {      
    if (pm.isScreenOn()) {
        sleep(700);
    } else {
        while (!pm.isScreenOn()) {
            // Do nothing...
        }
        sleep(700);
    }
}
...

Answer 1

When the phone screen is off and there is an incoming call, there are more work to do (waking up, dealing with the keyguard view...) so the in-call activity take longer to show up and this lead to the case your Call activity starts earlier than the in-call activity starts --> the in-call activity is on top
There is no exact time that the in-call activity need to displays (you have tried and see that 700 miliseconds is not enough)

My solution: keep tracking the state of Call activity:

• If it's still on top and user has not dismiss it (or any condition to dismiss), just keep tracking using the handler
• If there is any other activity go to foreground then Call activity try to get the back to top

My sample activity:

public class MainActivity extends Activity {
    private ActivityManager mActivityManager;
    private boolean mDismissed = false;

    private static final int MSG_ID_CHECK_TOP_ACTIVITY = 1;
    private static final long DELAY_INTERVAL = 100;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        Window window = getWindow();
        window.addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_DISMISS_KEYGUARD);

        mActivityManager = (ActivityManager) getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
        mHandler.sendEmptyMessageDelayed(MSG_ID_CHECK_TOP_ACTIVITY,
                DELAY_INTERVAL);
    }

    private Handler mHandler = new Handler() {
        public void handleMessage(android.os.Message msg) {
            if (msg.what == MSG_ID_CHECK_TOP_ACTIVITY && !mDismissed) {
                List<RunningTaskInfo> tasks = mActivityManager
                        .getRunningTasks(1);
                String topActivityName = tasks.get(0).topActivity
                        .getClassName();
                if (!topActivityName.equals(MainActivity.this
                        .getComponentName().getClassName())) {
                    // Try to show on top until user dismiss this activity
                    Intent i = new Intent();
                    i.setClass(MainActivity.this, MainActivity.class);
                    i.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
                    i.addFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SHOW_WHEN_LOCKED);
                    startActivity(i);
                }
                sendEmptyMessageDelayed(MSG_ID_CHECK_TOP_ACTIVITY,
                        DELAY_INTERVAL);
            }
        };
    };

}