Develop Reference

service got stopped when the app goes background

Hi in project I'm using service for chat communication using SignalR. Chat communication is working fine but when the app goes to background the service got stopped I need to run the services fully till my app get deleted
Here is me service code
public class SignalRService extends Service {
private HubConnection mHubConnection;
private HubProxy mHubProxy;
private Handler mHandler; // to display Toast message
private final IBinder mBinder = new LocalBinder(); // Binder given to clients
public SignalRService() {
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
super.onCreate();
mHandler = new Handler(Looper.getMainLooper());
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
int result = super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId);
startSignalR();
return result;
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
Log.i("onDestroy","onDestroy");
mHubConnection.stop();
super.onDestroy();
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
// Return the communication channel to the service.
startSignalR();
return mBinder;
}
/**
* Class used for the client Binder. Because we know this service always
* runs in the same process as its clients, we don't need to deal with IPC.
*/
public class LocalBinder extends Binder {
public SignalRService getService() {
// Return this instance of SignalRService so clients can call public methods
return SignalRService.this;
}
}
/**
* method for clients (activities)
*/
public void sendMessage(String message) {
String SERVER_METHOD_SEND = "Send";
mHubProxy.invoke(SERVER_METHOD_SEND, message);
}
/**
* method for clients (activities)
*/
public void sendMessage_To(String receiverName, String message) {
String SERVER_METHOD_SEND_TO = "SendChatMessage";
mHubProxy.invoke(SERVER_METHOD_SEND_TO, receiverName, message);
}
private void startSignalR() {
Platform.loadPlatformComponent(new AndroidPlatformComponent());
Credentials credentials = new Credentials() {
#Override
public void prepareRequest(Request request) {
request.addHeader("User-Name", "BNK");
}
};
String serverUrl = "http://10.10.10.180/signalr/hubs";
mHubConnection = new HubConnection(serverUrl);
mHubConnection.setCredentials(credentials);
String SERVER_HUB_CHAT = "ChatHub";
mHubProxy = mHubConnection.createHubProxy(SERVER_HUB_CHAT);
ClientTransport clientTransport = new ServerSentEventsTransport(mHubConnection.getLogger());
SignalRFuture<Void> signalRFuture = mHubConnection.start(clientTransport);
try {
signalRFuture.get();
} catch (InterruptedException | ExecutionException e) {
Log.e("SimpleSignalR", e.toString());
return;
}
sendMessage("Hello from BNK!");
String CLIENT_METHOD_BROADAST_MESSAGE = "broadcastMessage";
mHubProxy.on(CLIENT_METHOD_BROADAST_MESSAGE,
new SubscriptionHandler1<CustomMessage>() {
#Override
public void run(final CustomMessage msg) {
final String finalMsg = msg.UserName + " says " + msg.Message;
// display Toast message
mHandler.post(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
Log.i("message","message: "+finalMsg);
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), finalMsg, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
});
}
}
, CustomMessage.class);
}}
And here is the activity code
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private final Context mContext = this;
private SignalRService mService;
private boolean mBound = false;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
Intent intent = new Intent();
intent.setClass(mContext, SignalRService.class);
bindService(intent, mConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
}
#Override
protected void onStop() {
// Unbind from the service
Log.i("onStop","onStop");
if (mBound) {
unbindService(mConnection);
mBound = false;
}
super.onStop();
}
public void sendMessage(View view) {
if (mBound) {
// Call a method from the SignalRService.
// However, if this call were something that might hang, then this request should
// occur in a separate thread to avoid slowing down the activity performance.
EditText editText = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.edit_message);
EditText editText_Receiver = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.edit_receiver);
if (editText != null && editText.getText().length() > 0) {
String receiver = editText_Receiver.getText().toString();
String message = editText.getText().toString();
mService.sendMessage_To(receiver, message);
mService.sendMessage(message);
}
}
}
/**
* Defines callbacks for service binding, passed to bindService()
*/
private final ServiceConnection mConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
#Override
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className,
IBinder service) {
// We've bound to SignalRService, cast the IBinder and get SignalRService instance
SignalRService.LocalBinder binder = (SignalRService.LocalBinder) service;
mService = binder.getService();
mBound = true;
}
#Override
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName arg0) {
Log.i("onServiceDisconnected","onServiceDisconnected");
mBound = false;
}
};}
My manifest code for service
<service
android:name=".SignalRService"
android:enabled="true"
android:exported="true" >
</service>
Plese help me on this

If you bind the service with any component the system will automatically destroy the service if no other client is bound with it.
If you want to run a service independently then you have to start a service rather than bind. But you can't communicate with a service if you start it with startService()
For more details you can see the documentation here

You can BOTH start AND bind the service.
In this way, even if multiple components bind to the service at once, then ALL of them unbind, the service will NOT be destroyed. Refer to A service can essentially take two forms: Bound
your service can work both ways: it can be started (to run indefinitely) and also allow binding. It's simply a matter of whether you implement a couple callback methods: onStartCommand() to allow components to start it and onBind() to allow binding.
// onBind method just return the IBinder, to allow clients to get service.
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return mBinder;
}
// onStartCommand just return START_STICKY to let system to
// try to re-create the service if the servcie's process is killed.
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
return START_STICKY;
}
// and make startSignalR public to allow client to call this method.
public void startSignalR() {
}
In your clients, no need to keep a boolean mBound.
Just bind service when onCreate, unbind service when onDestroy. DO NOT unbind when onStop. Since onStop may called many times, for example dialog popup will invoke onStop, but your activity is still on foreground, this will cause your service destroyed.
Refer to my answer for question: Pass Service From one Activity to Another for sample code.

My background music service stops when I load a new activity. Am I connecting or binding wrong?

I'm trying to add background music to my game and I thought I could persist it across activities by starting the service and then just connecting and binding to it in different activities in order to control it. But my music stops playing when I try to establish a connection from my second activity. I'm very new to working with services, so I apologize for any simple mistakes.
From my MusicService class (extends Service)
private final IBinder mBinder = new ServiceBinder();
MediaPlayer mPlayer;
private int length = 0;
public static boolean STOP_ON_DESTROY = true;
// Binder subclass. Allows access from clients to the server
public class ServiceBinder extends Binder {
MusicService getService(){
return MusicService.this;
}
}
public MusicService() {}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return mBinder;
}
#Override
public void onCreate(){
super.onCreate();
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand (Intent intent, int flags, int startId)
{
return START_STICKY;
}
public boolean isPlaying(){
if(mPlayer != null){
return mPlayer.isPlaying();
}
return false;
}
public void stopMusic()
{
if(mPlayer != null){
if(mPlayer.isPlaying()) {
mPlayer.stop();
mPlayer.release();
mPlayer = null;
}
System.out.println("stopMusic service fn");
}
}
This is the code I call in both my Main and secondary activities in order to interact with the service. The music stops during the connectToMusicService function in the secondary activity. The Main activity works great.
onCreate(){....
startMusicService();
MusicService.STOP_ON_DESTROY = true;
}
private void startMusicService() {
Intent musicIntent = new Intent();
musicIntent.setClass(getApplicationContext(), MusicService.class);
startService(musicIntent);
}
#Override
public void onStart(){
super.onStart();
// establish connection for binding to the service
connectToMusicService();
// bind to the service
bindToMusicService();
}
private void bindToMusicService() {
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MusicService.class);
bindService(intent, myServiceConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
MusicService.STOP_ON_DESTROY = true;
}
private void connectToMusicService() {
myServiceConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
#Override
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName name, IBinder service) {
MusicService.ServiceBinder binder = (MusicService.ServiceBinder) service;
mService = binder.getService();
if(!mService.isPlaying())
mService.startMusic();
isServiceBound = true;
}
#Override
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName name) {
System.out.println("Service disconnected from main");
isServiceBound = false;
}
};
}
The only thing I do during my Main activity's onStop is
#Override
public void onStop(){
super.onStop();
if(mService != null) {
if (MusicService.STOP_ON_DESTROY) {
mService.stopMusic();
}
}
}
UPDATE: I got it working. My issue wasn't with service binding at all. It was with static STOP_ON_DESTROY variable I was using to manage whether the music should stop when leaving an activity. I cleaned that up and all is good now. Thanks!

First of all, do you need to bind at all? Or could starting the service be enough? Started services run until you stop them (except if killed by the system when resources are scarce). I am not sure there's any point binding from each of your activities.
Btw if your service should run and play music also when your activities are closed, consider making it a foreground service.

Calling activity class method from Service class

I have seen many posts in SO regarding this but could not get the exact and most easy way to call an activity method from service class. Is broadcast receiver only the option? No easy way out ? I just need to call the following method in Activity class after the media player is prepared in Service class .
Activity class:
public void updateProgress() {
// set Progress bar values
songProgressBar.setProgress(0);
songProgressBar.setMax(100);
// Updating progress bar
updateProgressBar();
}
Service class:
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
Log.d(this.getClass().getName(), "BIND");
return musicBind;
}
#Override
public boolean onUnbind(Intent intent) {
return false;
}
#Override
public void onPrepared(MediaPlayer mp) {
try {
mp.start();
} catch (IllegalStateException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
// updateProgress();// Need to call the Activity method here
}

Define an interface your Service will use to communicate events:
public interface ServiceCallbacks {
void doSomething();
}
Write your Service class. Your Activity will bind to this service, so follow the sample shown here. In addition, we will add a method to set the ServiceCallbacks.
public class MyService extends Service {
// Binder given to clients
private final IBinder binder = new LocalBinder();
// Registered callbacks
private ServiceCallbacks serviceCallbacks;
// Class used for the client Binder.
public class LocalBinder extends Binder {
MyService getService() {
// Return this instance of MyService so clients can call public methods
return MyService.this;
}
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
return binder;
}
public void setCallbacks(ServiceCallbacks callbacks) {
serviceCallbacks = callbacks;
}
}
Write your Activity class following the same guide, but also make it implement your ServiceCallbacks interface. When you bind/unbind from the Service, you will register/unregister it by calling setCallbacks on the Service.
public class MyActivity extends Activity implements ServiceCallbacks {
private MyService myService;
private boolean bound = false;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(...);
}
#Override
protected void onStart() {
super.onStart();
// bind to Service
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
bindService(intent, serviceConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
}
#Override
protected void onStop() {
super.onStop();
// Unbind from service
if (bound) {
myService.setCallbacks(null); // unregister
unbindService(serviceConnection);
bound = false;
}
}
/** Callbacks for service binding, passed to bindService() */
private ServiceConnection serviceConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
#Override
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className, IBinder service) {
// cast the IBinder and get MyService instance
LocalBinder binder = (LocalBinder) service;
myService = binder.getService();
bound = true;
myService.setCallbacks(MyActivity.this); // register
}
#Override
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName arg0) {
bound = false;
}
};
/* Defined by ServiceCallbacks interface */
#Override
public void doSomething() {
...
}
}
Now when your service wants to communicate back to the activity, just call one of the interface methods from earlier. Inside your service:
if (serviceCallbacks != null) {
serviceCallbacks.doSomething();
}

Use Broadcast receiver with service for updating your view from the service class.
For example:
In my activity class
public class ServiceDemoActivity extends Activity {
Intent intent;
/** Called when the activity is first created. */
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
final TextView notification = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.notification);
if (CheckIfServiceIsRunning()) {
} else {
startService(new Intent(this, MyService.class));
}
}
private BroadcastReceiver broadcastReceiver = new BroadcastReceiver() {
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
updateDate(intent);
}
};
private void updateDate(Intent intent) {
String time = intent.getStringExtra("time");
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Yea!!! Service called", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
TextView date = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.date);
date.setText(time);
}
#Override
public void onResume() {
super.onResume();
registerReceiver(broadcastReceiver, new IntentFilter(
MyService.BROADCAST_ACTION));
}
}
And in my service class I am calling my update ui after a few interval of time which updates my UI.
public class MyService extends Service {
public static final String
BROADCAST_ACTION = "com.mukesh.service";
private final Handler handler = new Handler();
#Override
public void onCreate() {
intent = new Intent(BROADCAST_ACTION);
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
stopService(intent);
}
#Override
public void onStart(Intent intent, int startid) {
int i = 0;
while (i <= 2) {
if (i > 1) {
i++;
this.onDestroy();
} else {
counter = i;
i++;
handler.removeCallbacks(sendUpdatesToUI);
handler.postDelayed(sendUpdatesToUI, 1 * 1000); // 1 sec
}
}
}
private Runnable sendUpdatesToUI = new Runnable() {
public void run() {
DisplayLoggingInfo();
handler.postDelayed(this, 7 * 1000); // 7 sec
}
};
private void DisplayLoggingInfo() {
intent.putExtra("time", new Date().toLocaleString());
intent.putExtra("counter", String.valueOf(counter));
sendBroadcast(intent);
stopService(intent);
}
}
For complete code check this link

I created a general class called Delegate (it's not a special name, you can name it John) and passed MainActivity class into it as a static field. Then I can access it from the service since its global now. I am not sure if it is cost-effective but it solved the problem for me simple.
My service:
package com.some.package;
import com.google.firebase.iid.FirebaseInstanceId;
import com.google.firebase.iid.FirebaseInstanceIdService;
public class FirebaseInstanceIDService extends FirebaseInstanceIdService {
#Override
public void onTokenRefresh() {
String token = FirebaseInstanceId.getInstance().getToken();
Delegate.theMainActivity.onDeviceTokenChange(token);
}
}
Delegate class:
package com.some.package;
public class Delegate {
static MainActivity theMainActivity;
}
What I did in MainActivity:
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
Delegate.theMainActivity = this;
//rest of the code...
}
public void onDeviceTokenChange(String token){
Log.e("updated token:", token);
}

You can't call your sevices method direcly from your activity or vise versa. There are 3 ways to communicate with a service; using broadcasters and receivers, using Messenger or binding to the service. For further information look at http://developer.android.com/guide/components/bound-services.html

You can call from your service
getContentResolver().notifyChange(uri, null);
and in your activity you set up a
getContentResolver().registerContentObserver(uri, false, new ContentObserver(getHandler())
{
public void onChange(boolean selfChange)
{
updateProgress()
}
};
the onChange method will ba called on the UI thread

You can call a method of activity from service by implementing your own listener like this
https://stackoverflow.com/a/18585247/5361964
You might consider running your activity method in runOnUiThread like this:
// method will be called from service
override fun callback(activity: Activity, result: String) {
runOnUiThread{
Toast.makeText(activity, result, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show()
}
}

I would prefer to use some very easy and cleaner solution provided by
EventBus

Update service running on background

I need to implement such a procedure:
Start a background service
Update the service with parameters (from UI - user input)
After activity ended the service should keep on running and preform requests to HTTP server every minute. in this stage i still need the parameters I updated in the second stage - I send them to the server.
The service should store the server last response and compere each with the last. if there is a change, notify the user.
Finally, when the activity starts again, the service should update UI with latest the server response.
What I tried:
BroadcastReciver - The problem is after onRecive ended all the arguments which aren't declared as final will wipe out, as well as I didn't found a way to update the Intent being sent automatically every minute.
Service - Using startService() - The problem is when the activity ended the service like stops and starts , flushing all it's arguments. and once again I didn't figured out how to update the arguments after the service is already started.
So how to handle such a situation?
Thanks.

It sounds like what you need to do is to be able to "bind" to your service. What I have posted below is a simple template of how to do that. For your purposes you will need to store variables in your Service class and create getters so that when you re-launch your activity you can get the most up to date variables. Also - please note that I start and stop the Service example below in onResume and onPause. You will no doubt want to do this differently.
//Activity
//Bind to Service Example
public class ExampleActivity extends Activity implements OnClickListener {
// UI
private Button binderButton;
// service
private MyService myService;
private Intent serviceIntent;
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.your_layout);
// binder button
binderButton = (Button) findViewById(R.id.button1);
binderButton.setOnClickListener(this);
binderButton.setText("start");
serviceIntent = new Intent(this, MyService.class);
}
private ServiceConnection serviceConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
#Override
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName name, IBinder service) {
myService = ((MyService.MyBinder) service).getService();
}
#Override
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName name) {
myService = null;
}
};
#Override
protected void onResume() {
super.onResume();
// start the service
startService(serviceIntent);
// bind to the service
bindService(serviceIntent, serviceConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
}
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
switch (v.getId()) {
case R.id.button1:
// call method within the service
myService.doServiceStuff();
break;
}
}
#Override
protected void onPause() {
super.onPause();
stopService(serviceIntent);
unbindService(serviceConnection);
}
}
//Service
public class MyService extends Service {
private final IBinder binder = new MyBinder();
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent arg0) {
return binder;
}
public void doServiceStuff() {
task.execute();
}
// create an inner Binder class
public class MyBinder extends Binder {
public MyService getService() {
return MyService.this;
}
}
AsyncTask<Void, Void, Void> task = new AsyncTask<Void, Void, Void>() {
#Override
protected Void doInBackground(Void... params) {
Log.d("yourTag", "long running service task");
return null;
}
};
}

Thanks javaJoe, although your answer didn't solved my problem it gave me some a good ideas.
What I did:
in the Activity onCreate, check if my service is running, if so bind it else, create new one and bind it.
Transferring arguments between the Service and the Activity using setters and getters.
in the Activity onDestroy (the problem was that the service calls self Destory) the Activity sends the final arguments through Intent to a Broadcastreciver. The Broadcastreciver than starts the Service again, initiating it with the correct arguments.
I don't know if this architecture is ideal, i'd like to get some feedback.
Here is the code:
Activity:
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
//Set Service Intent
serviceIntent = new Intent(this, UpdateService.class);
if (isMyServiceRunning()) {
//Bind to the service
bindService(serviceIntent, serviceConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
}else{
updateService=new UpdateService();
//Start the service
startService(serviceIntent);
//Bind to the service
bindService(serviceIntent, serviceConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
}
}
private boolean isMyServiceRunning() {
ActivityManager manager = (ActivityManager) getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
for (RunningServiceInfo service : manager.getRunningServices(Integer.MAX_VALUE)) {
if (UpdateService.class.getName().equals(service.service.getClassName())) {
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
private ServiceConnection serviceConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
#Override
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName name, IBinder service) {
updateService = ((UpdateService.MyBinder) service).getService();
//Set Initial Args
updateService.setParams(int arg0);
}
#Override
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName name) {
updateService = null;
}
};
#Override
protected void onDestroy() {
//UnBind from service
unbindService(serviceConnection);
//Stop Service
stopService(serviceIntent);
//Prepare intent to broadcast reciver
Intent intent = new Intent(MainActivity.this,ServiceRunnerBCR.class);
intent.setAction(ServiceRunnerBCR.ACTION_SET_UpdateService);
intent.putExtra(ServiceRunnerBCR.keyVal_arg0, arg0);
intent.putExtra(ServiceRunnerBCR.keyVal_arg1, arg1);
//Send broadcast to start UpdateService after the activity ended
sendBroadcast(intent);
super.onStop();
}
Broadcastreciver:
public class ServiceRunnerBCR extends BroadcastReceiver {
public static final String ACTION_SET_UpdateService = "ACTION_ALARM";
public static final String keyVal_arg0="ARG0";
public static final String keyVal_arg1="ARG1";
#Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
if (intent.getAction().equals(ACTION_SET_UpdateService)){
updateIntent(context, intent.getDoubleExtra(keyVal_arg0, 0.02), intent.getStringExtra(keyVal_arg1));
}
}
private void updateIntent(Context context, double arg0, String arg1){
Intent intent = new Intent(context,UpdateService.class);
intent.setAction(ACTION_SET_UpdateService);
intent.putExtra(keyVal_arg0, arg0);
intent.putExtra(keyVal_arg1, arg1);
synchronized (this){
try {
this.wait(6000);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
context.startService(intent);
Log.d("OREN","ServiceRunner");
}
}
Service:
public class UpdateService extends Service {
private final IBinder binder = new MyBinder();
public static final String keyVal_arg0="ARG0";
public static final String keyVal_arg1="ARG1";
private Timer timer;
private HTTPHandler http = new HTTPHandler();
private int test=0;
double arg0=0;
String arg1= "";
private TimerTask updateTask = new TimerTask() {
#Override
public void run() {
test++;
Log.d("OREN", "Timer task doing work " + test + " arg0: " + arg0);
//Do some work here
}
};
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
if (intent!=null){
arg0=intent.getDoubleExtra(keyVal_arg0, 0.002);
arg1=intent.getStringExtra(keyVal_arg1);
timer = new Timer("UpdateTimer");
timer.schedule(updateTask, 1000L, 10 * 1000L);
Log.d("OREN", "ServiceStarted" + test);
}
return super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId);
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
Log.d("OREN", "OnBind" + test);
return binder;
}
public void setArg0(double d){
arg0=d;
}
// create an inner Binder class
public class MyBinder extends Binder {
public UpdateService getService() {
return UpdateService.this;
}
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
Log.d("OREN", "OnDestroy" + test);
super.onDestroy();
}
#Override
public boolean onUnbind(Intent intent) {
Log.d("OREN", "OnUnBind" + test);
return super.onUnbind(intent);
}
}

Using Timer within an Android Service

I have a service that is going to act as an internal clock as part of another app, and it contains a Timer which runs every one second to update the time.
Problem is, when I close and re-open the app, the Service binds itself and all the code runs again in the service and then there are two Timers per second, and so on.
I've tried following the Local Service example, but the same thing happens http://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/Service.html#LocalServiceSample
Is it something to do with the bind/unbind of the service?
I'd like for just one process to run, so I'm looking for a way really to see if the process is running already, and if not then start it.
LocalService
`public class LocalService extends Service {
// This is the object that receives interactions from clients.
private final IBinder mBinder = new LocalBinder();
private long dateOfLastSync;
private long timeNow;
private final Handler handler = new Handler();
private static Timer timer = new Timer();
private Context ctx;
/**
* Class used for the client Binder. Because we know this service always
* runs in the same process as its clients, we don't need to deal with IPC.
*/
public class LocalBinder extends Binder {
// The LocalBinder provides the getService() method for clients to retrieve the current instance of LocalService.
LocalService getService() {
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "getService");
// Return this instance of LocalService so clients can call public methods
return LocalService.this;
}
}
#Override
public void onCreate() {
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "onCreate");
ctx = this;
startService();
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "onDestroy");
Toast.makeText(this, "Service Stopped ...", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
private void startService()
{
timer.scheduleAtFixedRate(new mainTask(), 0, 1000);
}
private class mainTask extends TimerTask
{
public void run()
{
toastHandler.sendEmptyMessage(0);
}
}
public void getTimeFromServer() {
FetchServerTime fetchTime = new FetchServerTime();
fetchTime.execute();
}
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "onBind");
getTimeFromServer();
return mBinder;
}
/** method for clients */
public long getTimeNow() {
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "getTimeNow");
return timeNow;
}
public void startTimeCounter() {
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "startTimeCounter");
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "onStartCommand");
return START_STICKY;
}
private final Handler toastHandler = new Handler()
{
#Override
public void handleMessage(Message msg)
{
timeNow += 1000;
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "time is " + timeNow);
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "test", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
};
class FetchServerTime extends AsyncTask<Integer, String, Long> {
private String mUrl;
private Date date;
private AlarmManager mAlarmManager;
public FetchServerTime() {
mUrl = "XXX";
}
#Override
protected Long doInBackground(Integer... params) {
(get server time code)
}
#Override
protected void onPostExecute(Long result) {
super.onPostExecute(result);
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "Server time on post execute: " + result);
timeNow = result;
dateOfLastSync = result;
}
}
`
InternalClockActivity
public class InternalClockActivity extends Activity implements CanUpdateTime {
private TextView timeLabel;
/** Called when the activity is first created. */
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
Log.d("INTERNALCLOCK", "onCreate - main");
timeLabel = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.time);
doBindService();
}
private LocalService mBoundService;
private ServiceConnection mConnection = new ServiceConnection() {
public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName className, IBinder service) {
// This is called when the connection with the service has been
// established, giving us the service object we can use to
// interact with the service. Because we have bound to a explicit
// service that we know is running in our own process, we can
// cast its IBinder to a concrete class and directly access it.
mBoundService = ((LocalService.LocalBinder)service).getService();
}
public void onServiceDisconnected(ComponentName className) {
// This is called when the connection with the service has been
// unexpectedly disconnected -- that is, its process crashed.
// Because it is running in our same process, we should never
// see this happen.
mBoundService = null;
}
};
private boolean mIsBound;
void doBindService() {
// Establish a connection with the service. We use an explicit
// class name because we want a specific service implementation that
// we know will be running in our own process (and thus won't be
// supporting component replacement by other applications).
bindService(new Intent(InternalClockActivity.this,
LocalService.class), mConnection, Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE);
mIsBound = true;
}
void doUnbindService() {
if (mIsBound) {
// Detach our existing connection.
unbindService(mConnection);
mIsBound = false;
}
}
#Override
protected void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
doUnbindService();
}
public void updateTime(String time){
timeLabel.setText(time);
}
}

I just created some static variables to see if the timer was running, i.e.
private static boolean isDownloadTaskRunning = false;
private void startService()
{
if (!isDownloadTaskRunning) {
// Timers are not running already
// start timer to download date at intervals
timerToDownloadNewData.scheduleAtFixedRate(new DownloadDateTask(), 0, TIMES.FIFTEEN_MINS.getSeconds());
// set running to true
isDownloadTaskRunning = true;
}
}