android - Call service method from activity -

i need call function service when item options menu pressed:

if (id == r.id.action_connect) {     if (misbound) {         localservice.connect();         // cannot referenced static context     } } 

i'm using these docs. read few answers i'm not sure one.

you can call startservice(someintent);

for example activity can this

intent serviceintent = new intent(this, theservice.class); serviceintent.addcategory("some_unique_string"); startservice(serviceintent); 

then in service

public int onstartcommand(intent intent, int flags, int startid) {     if (intent != null) {         if (intent.hascategory("some_unique_string")) {             themethodyouwanttocall();            } else if (intent.hascategory("some_other_string")) {             someothermethod();         }     }      return start_sticky; } 

you can call startservice like.

the basic idea create intent represents "intended" method want call , in service onstartcommand method, figure out method should call based on information pass in via intent , call method.

note: must check intent not null. if system ever kills , restarts service, calling startservice null intent, if leave part out will @ point npe crash.