Android Geofence eventually stop getting transition intents - android-geofence

Question

I have an app that started with the Google's geofencing sample code. It works great for a few days, and I get all the transition intents as I anticipate. However, after a bit of time, something like 3 days, the app stops getting these intents, and I don't know why.
When I create my fences, I'm setting the expiration duration to Geofence.NEVER_EXPIRE
Here is my IntentService where I get the transition intents before they stop working:
public class ReceiveTransitionsIntentService extends IntentService {
#Override
protected void onHandleIntent(Intent intent) {
Intent broadcastIntent = new Intent();
broadcastIntent.addCategory(GeofenceUtils.CATEGORY_LOCATION_SERVICES);
// First check for errors
if (LocationClient.hasError(intent)) {
...handle errors
} else {
// Get the type of transition (entry or exit)
int transition = LocationClient.getGeofenceTransition(intent);
// Test that a valid transition was reported
if ((transition == Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_ENTER)
|| (transition == Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_EXIT)) {
// Post a notification
NEVER GETS HERE
} else {
...log error
}
}
}
}
Here is pertinent part of the manifest:
<service
android:name="com.aol.android.geofence.ReceiveTransitionsIntentService"
android:exported="false" >
</service>
In my GeofenceRequester class, it is almost identical to the sample code. Here are the pertinent parts:
// Get a PendingIntent that Location Services issues when a geofence transition occurs
mGeofencePendingIntent = createRequestPendingIntent();
// Send a request to add the current geofences
mLocationClient.addGeofences(mCurrentGeofences, mGeofencePendingIntent, this);
private PendingIntent createRequestPendingIntent() {
// Create an Intent pointing to the IntentService
Intent intent = new Intent(context, ReceiveTransitionsIntentService.class);
return PendingIntent.getService(
context,
0,
intent,
PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
}
}
Can anyone see why this would stop working?

Answer 1

So after playing around with this a bit, it looks like the ReceiveTransitionsIntentService as defined in the sample code will stop getting the notifications when the app is not around. I think this is a big problem with the example code... Seems like that will trip folks like me up.
So I used a broadcast receiver instead, and so far it seems to be working from my tests.
Add this to the manifest:
<receiver android:name="com.aol.android.geofence.GeofenceReceiver"
android:exported="false">
<intent-filter >
<action android:name="com.aol.android.geofence.ACTION_RECEIVE_GEOFENCE"/>
</intent-filter>
</receiver>
Then in the GeofenceRequester class you need to change the createRequestPendingIntent method so that it goes to your BroadcastReceiver instead of the ReceiveTransitionsIntentService
private PendingIntent createRequestPendingIntent() {
// If the PendingIntent already exists
if (null != mGeofencePendingIntent) {
// Return the existing intent
return mGeofencePendingIntent;
// If no PendingIntent exists
} else {
// Create an Intent pointing to the IntentService
Intent intent = new Intent("com.aol.android.geofence.ACTION_RECEIVE_GEOFENCE");
// Intent intent = new Intent(context, ReceiveTransitionsIntentService.class);
/*
* Return a PendingIntent to start the IntentService.
* Always create a PendingIntent sent to Location Services
* with FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT, so that sending the PendingIntent
* again updates the original. Otherwise, Location Services
* can't match the PendingIntent to requests made with it.
*/
return PendingIntent.getBroadcast(
context,
0,
intent,
PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
}
}
Then I added the GeofenceReceiver class that looks something like this:
public class GeofenceReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
Context context;
Intent broadcastIntent = new Intent();
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
this.context = context;
broadcastIntent.addCategory(GeofenceUtils.CATEGORY_LOCATION_SERVICES);
if (LocationClient.hasError(intent)) {
handleError(intent);
} else {
handleEnterExit(intent);
}
}
private void handleError(Intent intent){
// Get the error code
int errorCode = LocationClient.getErrorCode(intent);
// Get the error message
String errorMessage = LocationServiceErrorMessages.getErrorString(
context, errorCode);
// Log the error
Log.e(GeofenceUtils.APPTAG,
context.getString(R.string.geofence_transition_error_detail,
errorMessage));
// Set the action and error message for the broadcast intent
broadcastIntent
.setAction(GeofenceUtils.ACTION_GEOFENCE_ERROR)
.putExtra(GeofenceUtils.EXTRA_GEOFENCE_STATUS, errorMessage);
// Broadcast the error *locally* to other components in this app
LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(context).sendBroadcast(
broadcastIntent);
}
private void handleEnterExit(Intent intent) {
// Get the type of transition (entry or exit)
int transition = LocationClient.getGeofenceTransition(intent);
// Test that a valid transition was reported
if ((transition == Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_ENTER)
|| (transition == Geofence.GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_EXIT)) {
// Post a notification
List<Geofence> geofences = LocationClient
.getTriggeringGeofences(intent);
String[] geofenceIds = new String[geofences.size()];
String ids = TextUtils.join(GeofenceUtils.GEOFENCE_ID_DELIMITER,
geofenceIds);
String transitionType = GeofenceUtils
.getTransitionString(transition);
for (int index = 0; index < geofences.size(); index++) {
Geofence geofence = geofences.get(index);
...do something with the geofence entry or exit. I'm saving them to a local sqlite db
}
// Create an Intent to broadcast to the app
broadcastIntent
.setAction(GeofenceUtils.ACTION_GEOFENCE_TRANSITION)
.addCategory(GeofenceUtils.CATEGORY_LOCATION_SERVICES)
.putExtra(GeofenceUtils.EXTRA_GEOFENCE_ID, geofenceIds)
.putExtra(GeofenceUtils.EXTRA_GEOFENCE_TRANSITION_TYPE,
transitionType);
LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(MyApplication.getContext())
.sendBroadcast(broadcastIntent);
// Log the transition type and a message
Log.d(GeofenceUtils.APPTAG, transitionType + ": " + ids);
Log.d(GeofenceUtils.APPTAG,
context.getString(R.string.geofence_transition_notification_text));
// In debug mode, log the result
Log.d(GeofenceUtils.APPTAG, "transition");
// An invalid transition was reported
} else {
// Always log as an error
Log.e(GeofenceUtils.APPTAG,
context.getString(R.string.geofence_transition_invalid_type,
transition));
}
}
/**
* Posts a notification in the notification bar when a transition is
* detected. If the user clicks the notification, control goes to the main
* Activity.
*
* #param transitionType
* The type of transition that occurred.
*
*/
private void sendNotification(String transitionType, String locationName) {
// Create an explicit content Intent that starts the main Activity
Intent notificationIntent = new Intent(context, MainActivity.class);
// Construct a task stack
TaskStackBuilder stackBuilder = TaskStackBuilder.create(context);
// Adds the main Activity to the task stack as the parent
stackBuilder.addParentStack(MainActivity.class);
// Push the content Intent onto the stack
stackBuilder.addNextIntent(notificationIntent);
// Get a PendingIntent containing the entire back stack
PendingIntent notificationPendingIntent = stackBuilder
.getPendingIntent(0, PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
// Get a notification builder that's compatible with platform versions
// >= 4
NotificationCompat.Builder builder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(
context);
// Set the notification contents
builder.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_notification)
.setContentTitle(transitionType + ": " + locationName)
.setContentText(
context.getString(R.string.geofence_transition_notification_text))
.setContentIntent(notificationPendingIntent);
// Get an instance of the Notification manager
NotificationManager mNotificationManager = (NotificationManager) context
.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
// Issue the notification
mNotificationManager.notify(0, builder.build());
}
}
Hopefully that helps someone else.

Answer 2

Following can be the reasons why the App is not getting Pending Intents according to the official google documentation -
1.The device is rebooted.
2.The app is uninstalled and re-installed.
3.The app's data is cleared.
4.Google Play services data is cleared.
5.The app has received a GEOFENCE_NOT_AVAILABLE alert.(When Android Location Provider gets switched off)
You have to re-register the geofence after these events.
In my case Location provider gets switched off and also device gets rebooted that's why I was not getting the pending intents.

Answer 3

In my case I had to clear Google Play Services app cache from the app settings, then everything started to work fine again.