Creating an app that has an option to get location information even when it's not running

Question

What's the best way to create an app that periodically gets location (via the GPS or cell towers, or whatever) even when the app isn't running?

The first idea I had is to use the AlarmManager to wake up at a specified interval and check. I'm wondering if there's a more specific API to use.

Answer 1

You subscribe to get notification on LocationChanged. You will get a broadcast receiver that will wake up your app. You can launch activities from the BroadCast receiver using the passed context as launchpoint.

locMan = (LocationManager) getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);

// loop through all providers, and register them to send updates
List<String> providers = locMan.getProviders(false);
for (String provider : providers) {
    Log.e("mytag", "registering provider " + provider);
    long minTimeMs = 5 * 60 * 1000;// 5 minute
    float minDistance = LOCATION_HOT_RADIUS_IN_METERS;
    locMan.requestLocationUpdates(provider, minTimeMs, minDistance,
            getIntent());
}

private PendingIntent getIntent() {
    Intent intent = new Intent(this, LocationReceiver.class);
    return PendingIntent.getBroadcast(
            getApplicationContext(), 0, intent, 0);
}

and the receiver

public class LocationReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {

/*
 * (non-Javadoc)
 * 
 * @see android.content.BroadcastReceiver#onReceive(android.content.Context,
 * android.content.Intent)
 */
@Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
    try {
        Bundle b = intent.getExtras();
        Location loc = (Location) b
                .get(android.location.LocationManager.KEY_LOCATION_CHANGED);
        if (loc != null) {


        }

    } catch (Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}
}