Android GPS Listener always running

Question

I implemented the GPS in my app, in one Activity like this:

 LocationManager mlocManager = (LocationManager)getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
        LocationListener mlocListener = new MyLocationListener();
        mlocManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 0, 0, mlocListener);

public class MyLocationListener implements LocationListener
    {
        public void onLocationChanged(Location location)
        {
            if (location != null) { //do something} 
        ...
        }

This is working fine. After evolving the app more I realized that I need to use the GPS in more than one activity. I need to be able to check if gps is active and what location does it return from 3 activities.

Imagine this scenario: the user starts the app. In background the GPS is trying to get satellite connection while the user selects some options. When I get to an activity that requires Location info I ask for it.

How can I achieve this ? Should this be running in another thread ? Please advise me. Thank you

Answer 1

I've implemented it as an Android Service.

public class MyPositioningService extends Service {
  @Override
  public void onCreate() {
    // init LocationManager as you are doing
  }

  @Override
  public void onDestroy() {
    // LocationManager#removeUpdates
  }
}

You can start it when the user launches the application:

Intent i = new Intent(context, MyPositioningService.class);     
context.startService(i);