FusedLocationProviderClient when and how to stop Looper?

Question

I used to use FusedLocationApi until I learned that it is deprecated (see references below). It was simple to implement. As the documentation says you need to use it in conjunction with GoogleApiClient

LocationServices.FusedLocationApi.requestLocationUpdates(googleApiClient,
                        locationRequest, this);

I recently changed to FusedLocationProviderClient (see reference below) Following a tutorial I was able to successfully get FusedLocationProviderClient working

Tutorial: https://github.com/codepath/android_guides/wiki/Retrieving-Location-with-LocationServices-API

// new Google API SDK v11 uses getFusedLocationProviderClient(this)
getFusedLocationProviderClient(this).requestLocationUpdates(mLocationRequest, new LocationCallback() {
      @Override
      public void onLocationResult(LocationResult locationResult) {
         // do work here
         onLocationChanged(locationResult.getLastLocation();
      }
    },
    Looper.myLooper());

The issue I am running into is the Looper thread. Even with the application in the background, the Looper thread continues to run. I would like to pause location updates when the application is in the background and then resume location updates when the application is in the foreground. How can I achieve this?

References:

1. https://developers.google.com/android/reference/com/google/android/gms/location/FusedLocationProviderApi
2. https://developers.google.com/android/reference/com/google/android/gms/location/FusedLocationProviderClient

Answer 1

You just need to call mFusedLocationClient.removeLocationUpdates(mLocationCallback) in onPause() of your Activity. However, there is a bit more to it than just that.

Use member variables for the FusedLocationProviderClient and LocationRequest in your main activity:

import com.google.android.gms.location.FusedLocationProviderClient;
import com.google.android.gms.location.LocationCallback;
import com.google.android.gms.location.LocationRequest;
import com.google.android.gms.location.LocationResult;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity
        GoogleApiClient.ConnectionCallbacks,
        GoogleApiClient.OnConnectionFailedListener {

    FusedLocationProviderClient mFusedLocationClient;
    LocationRequest mLocationRequest;

    //..........

Use a member variable for the LocationCallback as well:

LocationCallback mLocationCallback = new LocationCallback(){
    @Override
    public void onLocationResult(LocationResult locationResult) {
        for (Location location : locationResult.getLocations()) {
            Log.i("MainActivity", "Location: " + location.getLatitude() + " " + location.getLongitude());

        }
    };

};

Then, assign mFusedLocationClient in onCreate() :

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

    mFusedLocationClient = LocationServices.getFusedLocationProviderClient(this);
    requestLocationUpdates();

    //...............
}

Then in onResume(), if theFusedLocationProviderClient is set up, then use it.

@Override
public void onResume() {
    if (mFusedLocationClient != null) {
        requestLocationUpdates();
    }
}

public void requestLocationUpdates() {
    mLocationRequest = new LocationRequest();
    mLocationRequest.setInterval(120000); // two minute interval
    mLocationRequest.setFastestInterval(120000);
    mLocationRequest.setPriority(LocationRequest.PRIORITY_BALANCED_POWER_ACCURACY);
    if (ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this,
            Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION)
            == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
        mFusedLocationClient.requestLocationUpdates(mLocationRequest, mLocationCallback, Looper.myLooper());
    }
}

And finally, in onPause(), call removeLocationUpdates():

@Override
public void onPause() {
    super.onPause();
    if (mFusedLocationClient != null) {
        mFusedLocationClient.removeLocationUpdates(mLocationCallback);
    }
}