Hi all,
I've been working with the Android platform code lately, and had a chance 
to look at this issue of the GPS provider ignoring the minTime parameter on 
a number of devices more in depth.  The GPS provider has two built-in 
scheduling modes, native and platform, that are designed to follow the 
minTime parameter, so the problem isn't lack of capability in Android.
 
After some research, I believe the issue stems from native code reporting 
that it can handle GPS refresh scheduling, but then the native code doesn't 
actually do the scheduling, effectively preventing the Android platform 
from properly handling the scheduling.  I posted a more detailed 
description about this issue in the Android Contributors group:
*
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/android-contrib/KCE_ZNLsyLQ
*<https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/android-contrib/KCE_ZNLsyLQ>
 
I submitted a patch to the Android project (still under review) that 
essentially implements a fail-safe switch as a workaround for this problem, 
so the developer can force the Android platform to properly handle the GPS 
refresh scheduling if the native code isn't working properly:
*https://android-review.googlesource.com/#/c/34230/*<https://android-review.googlesource.com/#/c/34230/>
 
I've tested this patch on a custom Android build on a Nexus S 4G, and it 
works.  Without the patch, the Nexus S 4G just spits out locations at 1Hz 
no matter what you set the minTime parameter to.
 
If this issue has affected you as an Android developer and you'd like to 
see this patch make its way into Ice Cream Sandwich for all future Android 
device updates, I would suggest voicing your support by replying to my post 
on the Android Contributors list.  It would help if you mention the make 
and model of the device that has the problem as well, so we can track which 
phones are currently affected.
 
I haven't gotten much response about this from Google yet, but hopefully if 
they see this is an issue that is important to developers they would be 
willing to accept this patch.  If the patch is accepted, it would provide a 
fail-safe method for developers on all future Android devices to ensure 
that GPS scheduling performs as intended from the application's perspective.

Thanks,
Sean

Sean Barbeau
Center for Urban Transportation Research
University of South Florida

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