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Android Messaging

Find a reliable, low-cost way to send daily status messages between Android and iOS devices easily. Explore options like mobile push messaging for a robust solution that doesn't require an application server. Quickly integrate with Google Firebase Messaging for a seamless cross-platform experience.

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Android Messaging

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  1. Randy Dalrymple HillyRoad, LLC Android Messaging

  2. Initial Problem Our app depends on sending daily status (I'm OK) Need to send status message between phones Must be cross-platform (Android/iOS) Cannot presume proximity (can be anywhere)

  3. Prior Solution • Android-only product works with SMS • Android exposes interface to SMS inbox + events • Quick, easy, ROBUST solution • Fails completely with iOS (SMS interface hidden) • → Will not work cross-platform

  4. Additional Constraints • Must not require application server (I don't have one) • Must be low/no-cost • RELIABILITY!

  5. Options Considered • Use Existing Solutions • SMS (works only with Android) • WhatsApp/Telegram (no API available) • Dedicated server • Violates constraint → Discard

  6. Options Considered (Cont) • Push Messaging • Worth a look • Other • Chat • Database

  7. Mobile Push Messaging • Internet-based • Each platform (Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.) has its own dedicated server • Google: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) • Apple: Apple Push Messaging Server (APNS) • Messages sent synchronously to device (more or less) • Messages can originate from anywhere (other device, server, console)

  8. More Mobile Push Messaging • Often used for mass marketing/promotion • Token provides device ID/app ID • Payload is JSON dictionary format • Relies on persistent, dedicated socket connection • Google uses the Google Play Services socket for all services (Push, Maps, etc.) • → Android device MUST have Google Play Services installed and running for push messaging

  9. Google Firebase

  10. Messaging Architecture 5 Application Server 5 Apple Push Notification Server (APN) Firebase/ Google Cloud Messaging Server 1 3 6 2 3 2 4 4 6 1 1. Register with messaging server 2. Receive token & connect to socket 3. Log in with token 4. Send push message 5. Request push notification 6. Receive push notification iOS Client Android Client

  11. Application Server Role • Authenticate user • Handle push token for device • Determine appropriate push server • Accept push request from device • Request push notification from push server • Can use HTTP or XMPP (Preferred by APNS) • APNS requires secure, persistent connection • Handle errors/retries

  12. Find Application Server BaaS • Search criteria: • Must provide complete solution • Must be economical for small-scale deployment • Should scale if product is successful • Several products considered, but few are viable

  13. Candidates

  14. QuickBlox Messaging • Part of communications suite supporting messaging, chat, video chat, etc. • Company based in London, UK • Free tier • Up to 20K users • Allows 20 msg/sec. Beyond that, data ignored • Libraries/sample apps for Android, iOS

  15. QuickBlox Messaging Implementation • Register application with Google, Apple • Google is MUCH easier!!! • Create QuickBlox account and register application • Integrate QuickBlox framework in application

  16. Google Console

  17. QuickBlox Console

  18. Problem 1: QB Integration Options • Bare web API • Most efficient, but most work (threading, etc.) • Use QB framework • Must analyze/understand framework more fully • Sample app (includes framework) • Easiest to implement quickly → Use this one!

  19. Problem 2: How to Handle User ID • QB User ID must be unique • Users are unaware of underlying QB framework • Users know each other only by name and phone number • → Create anonymous QB User ID using phone number

  20. Android QB Integration • Required app functions • Test for internet connection • Create user ID for QuickBlox framework • Register for remote notification • Retrieve recipients' user IDs when sending message • Send push message • Handle received push message

  21. Push Sample App Integration

  22. MainActivity @Overrideprotected void onResume() {super.onResume();try {if (!Utils.isNetworkConnected(getApplicationContext())) { Utils.showAlert("No Internet", "Check your internet connection.", MainActivity.this); } else {qbManager = new QBManager(this.getApplicationContext());qbManager.createSession(); } }catch (Exception e) { // sometimes throws exception even when connectedUtils.showAlert("No Internet", "Check your internet connection.", MainActivity.this); }mSharedPreferences = getSharedPreferences(Utils.PREFS, MODE_PRIVATE); String org = mSharedPreferences.getString(Utils.PREF_IS_ORGANIZER, null);if (org == "true") { createChatGroup(); }}

  23. MainActivity

  24. QBManager

  25. MainActivity

  26. MainActivity

  27. CoreGcmPushListenerService public abstract class CoreGcmPushListenerService extends GcmListenerService { private static final String TAG = CoreGcmPushListenerService.class.getSimpleName(); @Override public void onMessageReceived(String from, Bundle data) { String message = data.getString(GcmConsts.EXTRA_GCM_MESSAGE); Log.v(TAG, "From: " + from); Log.v(TAG, "Message: " + message); if (ActivityLifecycle.getInstance().isBackground()) { showNotification(message); } logCheckInMessage(message); sendPushMessageBroadcast(message); } protected abstract void showNotification(String message); protected abstract void sendPushMessageBroadcast(String message); protected abstract void logCheckInMessage(String message);

  28. Results • Messaging implemented in Android (appx. 35 hrs) and iOS (appx. 30 hrs) • Successfully sent push messages between Android, iOS • However.......

  29. More Results • Messaging not sufficiently reliable for safety/security application • Google, Apple servers maintain 1-element queue per application • iOS does not handle silent push cleanly • During testing, Apple server offline for 24 hours • We need to try something else—Chat, DB or something else!

  30. Misc: QuickBlox Statistics c

  31. Misc: QuickBlox Console Push

  32. Selected References https://www.raywenderlich.com/126098/top-5-parse-alternatives http://www.androidbegin.com/blog/list-best-android-backend-service-baas-provider/ http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11508613/how-does-push-notification-technology-work-on-android https://firebase.google.com/docs/cloud-messaging/server https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/android/28000012 http://pushproviders.com/ https://aws.amazon.com/sns/ https://firebase.google.com/ https://layer.com/ https://www.applozic.com/price.html http://quickblox.com/developers/SimpleSample-messages_users-android

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