How to set timer to call a function every n minutes?

Question

I want to set up a timer in an Android application that will call a function after every 15/30/45 and n minutes when user login. But also it will stop timer when user log off. and timer begin from start if user login again. I want that option(15/30/45/n miutes) to be saved in database so that I can update list after sync.

Is Timer a good approach or I need to use alarm services? Or is there any system services required?

Is it possible to change previous doc/file in local phone database storage to new doc that is receiving through web server? is there any system services required to do so?

Solution

Use following code to call your function every 15/30/45

 final Handler handler = new Handler();
Timer    timer = new Timer();
    TimerTask doAsynchronousTask = new TimerTask() {       
        @Override
        public void run() {
            handler.post(new Runnable() {
                @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
                public void run() { 
                   try {
                        "Your function call  " 
                       }
                 catch (Exception e) {
                        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
                    }
                }
            });
        }
    };
    timer.schedule(doAsynchronousTask, 0, "Timer value"); 

Comments

[class stacker]

You want to use the AlarmManager for delays of this magnitude, with RTC or RTC_WAKEUP option, depending on your needs. Apart from that, it's hard to say what you mean by "user logs on/off". Either way, don't use Timer on Android, it's almost always the wrong way. No Service required because AlarmManager takes care of everything for you.

[Nirmal]

vogella.com/articles/AndroidServices/article.html

[Mujeeb]

"Timer value" in the last line needs to be replaced with an integer.

[Taha alam]

use of countdown timer will be more memory efficient