java - How can I invoke a method every 5 seconds in android?

Question

I'm working in an application which must send a GPS location every 5 seconds to the server when I choose (auto send button on). I'm new with android so I don't know how I can make an on/off button and how can I invoke the method that sends the data every 5 seconds when the button is on.

The method which it must invoke every 5 seconds:

public void postData() throws ClientProtocolException, IOException, Exception {


    String longitude="UK";
    String latitude="UK";
    String altitiude="UK";
    String time="";
    String speed="";

    getCurrentLocation(); // gets the current location and update mobileLocation variables

    if (mobileLocation != null) {
        locManager.removeUpdates(locListener); // This needs to stop getting the location data and save the battery power.

         longitude = ""+mobileLocation.getLongitude();
         latitude = "" + mobileLocation.getLatitude();
         altitiude = "" + mobileLocation.getAltitude();
        String accuracy = "Accuracy" + mobileLocation.getAccuracy();
        time = "" + mobileLocation.getTime();
         speed =""+ (int)(4*mobileLocation.getSpeed());

        editTextShowLocation.setText(longitude + "
" + latitude + "
"
                + altitiude + "
" + accuracy + "
" + time+ "
" + speed);
    } else {
        editTextShowLocation.setText("Sorry, location is not determined");

    }
        String url = "http://www.itrack.somee.com/post.aspx?id="+"f1"+"&long="+longitude+"&lat="+latitude+"&alt="+altitiude+"&speed="+speed;



        // Create a new HttpClient and Post Header
        HttpClient httpclient = new DefaultHttpClient();
        HttpPost httppost = new HttpPost(url);

        try {

        // Execute HTTP Post Request
        HttpResponse response = httpclient.execute(httppost);

        } catch (ClientProtocolException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        } catch (IOException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        }



}

Answer 1

I have faced exactly the same problem, sending location periodically. I've used a handler and its postDelayed method.

The periodic call part of my code looks like this:

private final int FIVE_SECONDS = 5000;
public void scheduleSendLocation() {
    handler.postDelayed(new Runnable() {
        public void run() {
            sendLocation();          // this method will contain your almost-finished HTTP calls
            handler.postDelayed(this, FIVE_SECONDS);
        }
    }, FIVE_SECONDS);
}

Then you just need to call scheduleSendLocation when you want to start your period calls.