How to properly call releaseNetworkRequest(PendingIntent) when PendingIntent is no longer available

Question

I am trying to request the network, so I build the NetworkRequest and I build the PendingIntent,

ConnectivityManager conn_manager =  (ConnectivityManager)getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);

        NetworkRequest net_req;
        net_req = new NetworkRequest.Builder()
                .addTransportType(NetworkCapabilities.TRANSPORT_CELLULAR)  //Data Network?
                .addTransportType(NetworkCapabilities.TRANSPORT_WIFI)  //Wifi
                .addCapability(NetworkCapabilities.NET_CAPABILITY_INTERNET)  //This might be what need internet permission
                .addCapability(NetworkCapabilities.NET_CAPABILITY_MMS)
                .build();

        Intent intent_sent = new Intent(activity, Service_MmsNetworkAvailable.class);

        PendingIntent pending_intent_net_req_received = PendingIntent.getService(activity, 0, intent_sent,
                PendingIntent.FLAG_ONE_SHOT);

        conn_manager.requestNetwork(net_req, pending_intent_net_req_received);

Then once the Service runs from the PendingIntent calling it, I am doing some Network stuff inside the Service and then when I'm done I believe I need to call releaseNetworkRequest(PendingIntent).

But here's the whole problem of mine, how do I reference the PendingIntent that started the Service from inside the Service? There is no guarantee that the Activity that created the NetworkRequest and PendingIntent will still be alive so I cannot rely on returning to that Activity to be able to call releaseNetworkRequest(PendingIntent) where I have reference to the PendingIntent.

Android specifically states that you must pass in the same PendingIntent into releaseNetworkRequest(PendingIntent) that you passed into conn_manager.requestNetwork(net_req, pending_intent_net_req_received);

So how is a developer supposed to releaseNetworkRequest(PendingIntent)?

Can I somehow reference the PendingIntent from the Service? I understand that PendingIntents stay alive even after the Activity that called it parishes into the abyss.

I must be missing something here, PendingIntents call Activities, Receivers, and Services, none of which I see can reference back to the original PendingIntent. Furthermore, NULL cannot be passed into releaseNetworkRequest(PendingIntent) according to Android documentation?

Also just to note, I am only doing this because startUsingNetworkFeature() is deprecated and developers are encouraged to use NetworkRequest(), arg!!!

I am literally stuck here now with no way to go, this is rare to be so backed into a corner here if anyone can shed light on this predicament of mine I would be grateful.

Answer 1

You can recreate the PendingIntent in your Service by using the same code you used when you created it in the first place:

Intent intent_sent = new Intent(activity, Service_MmsNetworkAvailable.class);
PendingIntent pending_intent_net_req_received = PendingIntent.getService(activity, 0, intent_sent,
            PendingIntent.FLAG_ONE_SHOT);

Instead of activity in new Intent(...), you can use the Service instance, as you just need a Context from your application.

NOTES:

1. It probably isn't necessary to use PendingIntent.FLAG_ONE_SHOT when creating (or recreating) this PendingIntent. I've had a number of issues with the behaviour of FLAG_ONE_SHOT, so I would just remove it if I were you.

2. The documentation indicates that the PendingIntent should trigger a Broadcast, but you are using a Service. This may or may not work as expected. Good luck!