How to detect and manage incoming call (Android)?

Question

I want to create an application that can detect incoming calls and start my custom activity after a certain number of beeps (rings), I mean after 2 or 3 or 5 beeps (rings) my activity is triggered. How can I do it?

Thanks

Answer 1

I don't think you can count the number of rings the phone made since the start of the incoming call. There can't be a definitive measure of a single ring because the user can easily change the ringtone to a non-repetitive tune, for example, a song.

What you can do, however, is count the amount of time that passed since the arrival of the call. Set up a BroadcastReceiver for PHONE_STATE (you will need the corresponding permission in the manifest to receive the event). Once you receive the EXTRA_STATE_RINGING that came with the PHONE_STATE, set an alarm via the AlarmManager that will fire a Service that checks if EXTRA_STATE_OFFHOOK (broadcast when the call is picked up) has been broadcast after your waiting time. If not, then you can start your answering machine.

I have written a quick tutorial in my website on how to catch the call's arrival (when the phone rings), when the call is picked up, and when it ends.