How to ensure android is always powered on?

Question

I have a project requirement which requires android to be always powered on with service running in background. While I can handle service part, as from 2.2 by using START_STICKY, still there is no way I can guarantee the device always is on. Or at-least if connected to power-supply should boot automatically, if switched off.

Is there any solution for this in real world ? Except for going to make a new firmware, I need some ideas or a workaround. Thanks.

UPDATE: I thought to be better more clear. In my case I am not using android as a mobile and there will be no user. Its use is like an hardware equipment running android which once installed with my app, no one has access to it. And is always connected to power supply and internet. Also user will have access to its power-supply controls.

I agree it cannot be done from inside application or using Android APIs. But this is a real world problem, and I desperately need a solution on this. Any thing even not related to programming, may be mechanical or anything.

Answer 1

I also wanted to do the same but could not find any solution online. Then I came up with a hardware solution which I have described in my blog here http://iembed.tumblr.com/post/9055351385/boot-on-power

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I doubt that there is a solution for your problem. The event of charging when turned off will never reach the top level but will be handled on low hardware level (turn on screen and display the charging status). So your application will never have a chance to react to such an event. The second thing is, that the user has always the power about the hardware. If he decide to turn off the device, it should and probably will turn off. The last chance he has is to remove the battery, off course.

So your solution is to reject this requirement because it can't be done.

Answer 3

I don't know what you want to do but this looks like a really bad idea... Anyone would immediately uninstall an app like this. If I turn off my phone I don't want to have an app which turns my phone on without asking me.

Anyway this looks impossible to do... The android API does not allow you to do it.

Answer 4

I found an app that allows you to boot your device when it is off and charging

The app called NoMoarPowah!

It can run on specific devices and requires rooting. You can boot your device if the battery charged or 15% charged or has enough juice to boot.

Try it...

Answer 5

 PowerManager pm = (PowerManager) getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE);
            mWakeLock = pm.newWakeLock(PowerManager.FULL_WAKE_LOCK
                    | PowerManager.ACQUIRE_CAUSES_WAKEUP,
                   "Any String");
mWakeLock.acquire();