Aborting/Cancelling Broadcasts

Question

What I want: I want to be the first to receive the Sms Broadcast and I want to cancel the broadcast if SMS is of my interest only, so that The broadcast doesn't reach any other app/receiver (Default messaging app etc.). What I know is:

• SmsDisptacher.java uses orderedBroadcasts that can be can canceled/aborted.

What I don't know is:

• If orderedBrodcasts can be canceled for other apps/receivers i.e other than yourself.

what I have tried for being the first to receive the Broadcast:

• intent-filter android:priority="1000"

What i have tried for canceling broadcast already:

• AbortBroadcast();
• broadcastReceiver.setResultCode(RESULT_CANCELED)
• clearAbortBroadcast()

Answer 1

It is certainly possible. Register your receiver in your manifest like this:

<receiver android:name=".SmsReceiver">
    <intent-filter android:priority="1000">
        <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED" />
    </intent-filter>
</receiver>

In your receiver's onReceive method write:

@Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
    if (intent.getAction().equals(SMS_RECEIVED)) {
        //do your stuff
        abortBroadcast();
    }
}

Remember to set the permission to receive sms messages in the manifest like this:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS"/>

Without the correct permission set it will fail silently with the following logcat message:

07-13 12:54:13.208: WARN/ActivityManager(201): Permission Denial: receiving Intent { act=android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED (has extras) } to com.mypackage requires android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS due to sender com.android.phone (uid 1001)

Finally, it is possible that another application has registered a receiver with an even higher priority than yours, and that it therefore receives the broadcast before you cancel it. So if all else fails, try experimenting with higher priority values.