BroacastReceiver does not work when device sleep?

Question

I am writing an app to tracking the route history on Google map. It will get current location of the device every 5 minutes and send data to server via webservice.

This code to call the BroadcastReceiver from MainActivity

manager = (AlarmManager) getSystemService(Context.ALARM_SERVICE);

Intent intent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), AlarmReceiver.class);
intent.putExtra("USERNAME", mUsername);
intent.putExtra("DB_NAME", mDBName);
intent.putExtra("DB_IP", mDBIP);
intent.putExtra("DB_USER", mDBUsername);
intent.putExtra("DB_PASS", mDBPassword);
intent.putExtra("SERVER_IP", mServerIP);

mAlarmIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(getApplicationContext(), REQUEST_CODE, intent, 0);
int mTimeRepeat = 300 * 1000;   // repeat every 5 minutes
int mTimeStart = 5 * 1000;

manager.setRepeating(AlarmManager.ELAPSED_REALTIME, SystemClock.elapsedRealtime() + mTimeStart, mTimeRepeat, mAlarmIntent);

In BroadcastReceiver, I get the lat-long and invoke webservice.

public class AlarmReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
private static final String TAG = "Alarm Receiver";

private String mUsername = "";
private String mDBName = "";
private String mDBIP = "";
private String mDBUsername = "";
private String mDBPassword = "";
private String mServerIP = "";

private Context context;
private static AsyncHttpClient sClient = new AsyncHttpClient();

@Override
public void onReceive(final Context context, Intent intent) {
    this.context = context;

    mUsername = intent.getStringExtra("USERNAME");
    mDBIP = intent.getStringExtra("DB_IP");
    mDBName = intent.getStringExtra("DB_NAME");
    mDBUsername = intent.getStringExtra("DB_USER");
    mDBPassword = intent.getStringExtra("DB_PASS");
    mServerIP = intent.getStringExtra("SERVER_IP");

    if (Utility.checkLocationPermission(context)) {
        try {
          GPSTracker mGPS = new GPSTracker(context);
          // check if GPS enabled
          if (mGPS.canGetLocation()) {
          double latitude = mGPS.getLatitude();
          double longitude = mGPS.getLongitude();

          // more code here

Problem is the app works fine when I keep my phone awake, if the phone sleep, it didn't work. I want this send data even when the phone sleep, how can I do that ?

Answer 1

To achieve this requirement better you use JobScheduler API.

AlarmManager is outdated.

Advantages of using JobScheduler :

1. On device restart you don't need to receive the OnBootComplete action to restart the service
2. U can stop service temporarily when device battery is low to avoid bad user experience.
3. Best way to sync the data from device to server in background.

I tested it is working fine.For more info check below links.

For reference please go through below links :

http://www.vogella.com/tutorials/AndroidTaskScheduling/article.html#schedulingtasks

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/job/JobScheduler.html

If anything is unclear please let me know will share working sample and let me know if it helps.

Use below working sample :

  public class PollingService extends JobService {

    @Override
    public boolean onStartJob(JobParameters params) {
        Log.d("PollingService", "onStartJob in PollingService is called");
        jobFinished(params, false);
        return false;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onStopJob(JobParameters params) {
        Log.d("PollingService", "onStopJob in PollingService is called");
        return false;
    }
}

Register in Manifest :

<service
            android:name=".Services.PollingService"
            android:exported="true"
            android:permission="android.permission.BIND_JOB_SERVICE" />

Use below code in Activity to start service :

    //put this in oncreate of Activity or from where u want to start
        JobScheduler mJobScheduler = JobScheduler.getInstance(getApplicationContext());  

    buidJob(); //Method call 

   //Method
    private void buidJob() {
            JobInfo.Builder jobinfo = new JobInfo.Builder(100,new ComponentName(this,PollingService.class));
            jobinfo.setPeriodic(50*1000).
                    setRequiredNetworkType(JobInfo.NETWORK_TYPE_UNMETERED).
                    setPersisted(true);
            //build();

            mJobScheduler.schedule(jobinfo.build());
            Log.d(TAG,"buidJob()");
        }

Dependencies :

 compile 'me.tatarka.support:jobscheduler:0.1.1'

To support lower end version used above aar. You can do it with out using above aar if we follow above mentioned links.

Answer 2

There were lots of behavior changes in Android 8.0 (O), we all should acknowledge about these issues here >> What's new in Android 8.0 ?

Check if you're targeting API Level 26 or not (I think you are)
app > build.gradle > targetSdkVersion

If then, I think you should check this link >> Background location limits

Answer 3

Use WakeLock, A wakelock is a mechanism to indicate that your application needs to have the device stay on.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK"/>

Note: wakelock will keep device on only for the duration of onRecieve method. If you want to keep the device one for long period this library may help

Answer 4

use AlarmManager.ELAPSED_REALTIME_WAKEUP and use these condition for set alarm

if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < 23){
    if(Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 19){
        setExact(...);
    }
    else{
        set(...);
    }
}
else{
    setExactAndAllowWhileIdle(...);
}

and in broadcast receiver set next alarm to fire