Polling a database with long interval times, which is the best and most efficient way?

Question

How should I do this? I have been reading the posts but I don't see a clear answer to tell the truth.

I have been looking up the AlarmManager but it looked too complicated for something as simple as I want. I searched through the Timer class now, but I think you can't make it work when the application is closed. So which way should I choose? Which is the best way to check the server from time to time even if the app. is closed? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

You won't get around AlarmManager. The only other client-side way would be to use a permanently running Service, but that is even more effort and less efficient.

Answer 2

As per the question i will favor the AlarmManager as do not run the continuous services, for this purpose you can follow given steps

1 Set up an AlarmManager to fire in say 5 minutes, you can use yours timings 5 minutes is just arbitrary.

2 In the response of the alarm , you can start a service that will be able to poll the data.

3 After polling it can set itself up with a new Alarm to fire again in another 5 minutes.

4 The service shuts down finally.