Suppressing system audio volume to play notification audio from inside app

Question

My app runs as a service in background and can give notifications based on some events. Currently, to play notification files, I use MediaPlayer in my app :

MediaPlayer mPlay = MediaPlayer.create(this, R.raw.sound);
mPlay.start();

But, if a song is already playing on the device (Music player, radio etc), and my notification plays when receiving the event, both the sounds (Music audio & notification audio) is heard in parallel.

So, is there a way that I can suppress the system audio volume so that my notification is heard clearly and once notification audio is over, the system audio can playback again?

Thanks for any help

Answer 1

I got the answer to this question in the following link:

http://developer.android.com/training/managing-audio/audio-focus.html

We need to request for audio focus (transient/permanent) and then can play the app audio:

AudioManager am = (AudioManager) getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE);
// Request audio focus for playback
int result = am.requestAudioFocus(afChangeListener,
                             // Use the music stream.
                             AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC,
                             // Request permanent focus.
                             AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN_TRANSIENT);

if (result == AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_REQUEST_GRANTED) {
    // Start playback.
    Log.i(TAG, "...audiofocus granted....");
    MediaPlayer mPlay = MediaPlayer.create(this, R.raw.sound);
    mPlay.start();
}

OnAudioFocusChangeListener afChangeListener = new OnAudioFocusChangeListener() {
    public void onAudioFocusChange(int focusChange) {
        if (focusChange == AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT) {
            // Pause playback
            Log.i(TAG, "....audiofocus loss transient in listener......");
        } else if (focusChange == AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN) {
            // Resume playback 
            Log.i(TAG, "....audiofocus gain in listener......");
        } else if (focusChange == AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS) {
            Log.i(TAG, "....audiofocus loss in listener......");
            //am.unregisterMediaButtonEventReceiver(RemoteControlReceiver);
            am.abandonAudioFocus(afChangeListener);
            // Stop playback
        }
    }
};

Hope it helps someone.