iOS Run Code Once a Day

Question

The idea behind this app is very simple: download a file. However this app will be for people who are not always within internet access range, so I need it to know that at, say 9:00 AM, to download a file to the hard drive. There will be a button within the app to do it manually as well, but I've already got that working.

As I understand it, this will be difficult if it is even possible. I know that iOS doesn't like multitasking, but I am also aware that it does allow for background timer functions. I am open to any sort of suggestions anyone might have to accomplish this, even if it means writing a separate app. Thanks.

Edit: I see there is the possibility of working with Notifications, or even maybe the Calendar. Ideas in that category as also welcomed.

Edit 2: I also read something about an external server initiating an app, but it gave no description.

Answer 1

Here's the situation regarding background execution and notifications and timers etc. in relation to an app scheduling some activity to happen periodically.

1. An app cannot execute in the background unless:

   1. It requests extra time from the OS to do so. This is done using beginBackgroundTaskWithExpirationHandler. It is not specified (intentionally) by Apple how long this extra time is, however in practice it is around 10 minutes.

   2. An app has a background mode, the modes are: voip, audio, location, newstand. Even if it has one of these types an app cannot execute without some restrictions. The rest of this discussion assumes the app does not have a background mode.

2. When an app is suspended it cannot do ANYTHING to rouse itself directly. It cannot previously have scheduled an NSTimer, it cannot make use of something like performSelector:afterDelay. etc.

   The ONLY way the app can become active again is if the USER does something to make it active. The user can do this from via of the following:

   1. Launch the app directly from its icon

   2. Launch the app in response to a local notification that was previously scheduled by the app while it was active.

   3. Launch the app in response to a remote notification sent by a server.

   4. A few others: such as URL launching if the app is registered to deal with launching via a url; or if its registered to be capable of dealing with a certain type of content.

If an app is in the foreground when a local/remote notification fires then the app receives it directly.

If the app is not currently in the foreground when a local/remote notification fires then the app DOES NOT receive it. There is no code that is executed when the notification fires!

Only IF the user selects the notification will the app become active and it can execute.

Note that the user can disable notifications, either for the entire device, or just for a specific application, in which case the user will never see them. If the device is turned off when a notification is due to fire then it is lost.

Answer 2

You could use local notifications. They execute code when the user opens the notification that is presented. You can set the local notification to recur at a specified interval (e.g. daily, hourly, weekly, etc). This still requires the user to open the app to get the process started.

UILocalNotification Class Reference

Once the delegate method fires, you only get a few seconds to execute code. Register for a long running background task, and download whatever you need to do. If it can't finish downloading in the 10 minutes you get for the task, then you need to rethink your download strategy.

Apple Multitasking and Backgrounding

We are using this same concept on iOS apps where I work, so this will work if you set it up right.

UPDATE

For those curious how this will work, you just need to implement the UILocalNotification delegate methods. They inherit from the UIApplicationDelegate that should already be in place.

-(void)application:(UIApplication *)application didReceiveLocalNotification:(UILocalNotification *)notification {
// start your long running bg task here and update your file

}

** UPDATE 2 **

Martin H's answer is the most correct so far. But this begs the question, if the user never opens the app, what is the point of downloading data they are never going to see? A recurring local notification reminding them to open the app and update may be the best way, but still requires the user to interact with your app if they want it to remain current and up-to-date.