Android Question FusedLocationProvider in Service - Optimize Battery Use

[Gentry]

I am trying to optimize battery life on a GPS enabled app, I've moved the Fused Location Provider into a service and am starting the service when a current location update is desired. When the app is idle, a location update every hour is sufficient, but when the user is actively using the app, more frequent updates are needed (example every 30 seconds).

It seems however that the GPS polling is continuous regardless of the service being active and the battery drain still significant with this approach.

I've tried destroying the service at the end of the service_create, but that prevents the LocationChanged event from ever firing. It seems that FLP.Disconnect has the same effect.

I also tried switching to .Priority.PRIORITY_BALANCED_POWER_ACCURACY however, the HIGH accuracy is required for the app.

Any advice on improving the battery life while using the GPS is appreciated. Here is the service code that I am currently using.

Thanks,
Gentry

#Region  Service Attributes 
    #StartAtBoot: False
#End Region

Sub Process_Globals
    'These global variables will be declared once when the application starts.
    'These variables can be accessed from all modules.
   
    Dim haslocationchanged As Boolean
    Dim NTCFrequency as int
    Dim FusedLocationProvider1 As FusedLocationProvider
    Dim playmodeOn as Boolean

End Sub

Sub Service_Create
    Log("loc - Service_Create")
    NTCFrequency = 30
    playmodeOn = true
    FusedLocationProvider1.Initialize("FusedLocationProvider1")
    notifycount = 0
    haslocationchanged = True
    DateTime.DateFormat = DateTime.DeviceDefaultDateFormat
End Sub

Sub Service_Start (StartingIntent As Intent)

        Log("loc - Service_Start")
Try
    If FusedLocationProvider1.IsConnected = False Then
        FusedLocationProvider1.Connect
    End If
    Dim CheckPeriod As Period
    CheckPeriod.Seconds = NCTFrequency
    If boolPlayModeOn Then  'check more frequently in play mode, every hour if not in play mode
        Log("play mode on")
           StartServiceAt(Me, DateTime.Now + (NCTFrequency * DateTime.TicksPerSecond),True)
    Else
        Log("play mode off")
       StartServiceAt(Me,DateTime.Now + (60 * DateTime.TicksPerMinute),True)
    End If
    'FusedLocationProvider1.Disconnect    'tried to save battery, but prevents LocationChanged events
Catch
    Log(LastException.Message)
End Try

End Sub

Sub Service_Destroy
    Log("loc Service_Destroy",1)
End Sub

Sub FusedLocationProvider1_LocationChanged(Location1 As Location)
       Log("FusedLocationProvider1_LocationChanged")
       haslocationchanged = True

        Try
            UpdateDistanceandNotify
        Catch
            Log(LastException)           
        End Try

Sub UpdateDistanceandNotify
    Log("loc - UpdateDistanceandNotify",1)
End Sub

Sub FusedLocationProvider1_ConnectionFailed(ConnectionResult1 As Int)
   Log("FusedLocationProvider1_ConnectionFailed")
   
    '    the FusedLocationProvider ConnectionResult object contains the various ConnectionResult constants
   
    Select ConnectionResult1
        Case FusedLocationProvider1.ConnectionResult.NETWORK_ERROR
            '    a network error has occurred, this is likely to be a recoverable error
            '    so try to connect again
            FusedLocationProvider1.Connect
        Case Else
            '    TODO handle other errors
    End Select
End Sub

Sub FusedLocationProvider1_ConnectionSuccess
   Log("FusedLocationProvider1_ConnectionSuccess")
    Dim LocationRequest1 As LocationRequest
    LocationRequest1.Initialize
    LocationRequest1.SetInterval(1000)    '    1000 milliseconds
    LocationRequest1.SetPriority(LocationRequest1.Priority.PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY)
    'LocationRequest1.SetPriority(LocationRequest1.Priority.PRIORITY_BALANCED_POWER_ACCURACY)
    LocationRequest1.SetSmallestDisplacement(1)    '    1 meter
    FusedLocationProvider1.RequestLocationUpdates(LocationRequest1)
End Sub

Sub FusedLocationProvider1_ConnectionSuspended(SuspendedCause1 As Int)
   Log("FusedLocationProvider1_ConnectionSuspended")
   
    '    the FusedLocationProvider SuspendedCause object contains the various SuspendedCause constants
   
    Select SuspendedCause1
        Case FusedLocationProvider1.SuspendedCause.CAUSE_NETWORK_LOST
            '    TODO take action
            Log("ConnectionSuspended:NETWORK_LOST")
           
        Case FusedLocationProvider1.SuspendedCause.CAUSE_SERVICE_DISCONNECTED
            '    TODO take action
            Log("ConnectionSuspended:SERVICE_DISCONNECTED")
    End Select
End Sub




End Sub

 

[Erel]

You should call Disconnect and then stop the service after the location was found (when the app is in the background).

Don't try to disconnect every 30 seconds as it will not save much.