Need to implement a timeout feature when application goes to background

Issue

I need to create a timeout feature when my app goes to the background for 5 minutes(anything that fires up onPause() except when activity is finishing). If the user goes back to the application then the timer should be cancelled.

Also, I need the timer to be not dependent on the time set in the phone meaning when the app goes to the background and then the user changes the time the application will still timeout within 5 minutes.

Checking out the documentation of the AlarmManager it states the following:

Note: The Alarm Manager is intended for cases where you want to have your application code       
run at a specific time, even if your application is not currently running. For normal 
timing operations (ticks, timeouts, etc) it is easier and much more efficient to use 
Handler.

Solution

Alternatively, you could try setting up bound service - these can operate in background even if user toggles frontmost application. you can communicate with the service using Handler, just as you would do with threads.

the easiest would be to use sendEmptyMessageDelayed of predefined type and use call to removeMessages() once your app is back on top.

Answered By - Tomasz W