Apple Push Notification Service (APNS)

Introduction

Modern technology has enhanced a lot of processes such as communication, social networking, and business through e-commerce. These are activities that people did and still, do all by themselves. Technological advancement led to the digitalization of these activities enabling users to do expand their business on the internet and to trade with people who are far away. Nevertheless, despite all these, users still have to leave their gadgets in order to attend to one issue or another. These are problems that only the user can do them physically. These are activities such as laundry or cooking.

System developers are always seeking a better way to serve their customers. They understand that users have to leave their phones in order to attend to some matters. As a result, push notifications were developed in the various systems that run devices such as smartphones. These are notifications that ease the work of the user on the phone allowing them to concentrate on their other agendas away from these devices. The Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) is the service that delivers push notifications for Apple users.

What is Needed?

#1. Actual Device

Push notifications can only come through a smartphone, tablet or any other physically tangible device. This is because these notifications originally come from an application which has to be installed in a device. Consequently, to enjoy this service, potential consumers must have a working device.

#2. Push App

Applications are programs that are run in devices in a bid to provide a certain service. The push app is an application that has the notifications program that sends the various notifications. In order to send any type of notifications to the device, the device must have this app and it must be fully installed.

#3. Program Membership

The device and the push app alone are not enough. The program cannot run until it has been logged in. To do so, the device user has to register as a new user in the push app site in order to access its activities. Once this is done, a certificate is released stating that the user is allowed to use the app for notification purposes.

How it Works

The APNS is used to ease the work of the user by acting on the small tasks the device seeks done. The program is able to identify them and then alert the user by using a short notification text message that the user will find once they are done with their other activities. This will aid the user to quickly act on the issue at hand as displayed by the text message.

At times, the task at hand may be urgent and further delay may develop into greater problems. In such a case, the APNS program not only sends a text message but also plays a notification sound in order to alert the user of the urgency thus solving the issue in good time. In addition to this, since the program is configured to the ID of the user, it creates sort of a command center that enables it to spell out the possible actions that the user can take without having to necessarily access the application. Therefore, it is up to the user to make a decision and arrive at the desired choice which they will select and proceed with their other activities.

There are tasks which are simple but still need to be handled. The program is able to tackle them effectively and where complications may crop up, it either sends a text message or sends a notification sound depending on the urgency.

How to Create Own APNS Messages

#1. Mandatory Configuration

The Push App is the application that is tasked with sending or receiving push notifications on your device. In order to do so, it needs to be configured to the developers’ site in order to access the necessary files in the device without any sort of infringement of licenses. To be configured it must be registered to the Apple ID registry.

#2. Optimal Use of Servers

The APNS program is tasked with relaying the push notifications from the servers of the Push App. These servers are able to interpret the situation present in the available applications present in the device. Any task needing immediate attention is noted by these servers which relay the information to the devices through the APNS. As a result of this, the APNS sends the push notifications to the user through a notification sound or text message.

#3. Optimal Functioning of the Push App

Creation of APNS messages means proper functioning of the app. The app should be able to receive notifications in time in order to provide the right remedy.

How to Generate APNS Certificate

#1. Generate a CSR file

A Certificate Request (CSR) is a file that is used to request for the APNS certificate. This is a legal procedure that entails requesting of the certificate from a credited certificate authority. In order to make the request, personal information is the need to authenticity. This is information such as the email address and the name of the user seeking the certificate. The program that aids in this process is the Certificate Assistant. Once this information has been provided, the file that has been created is thus saved into the device as the CSR file.

#2. Register with Apple

It is very essential that at this point any user who seeks a certificate should have an Apple account. This is because through the acquisition of the CSR file did not need an Apple ID, the other subsequent processes will need it. As such, any customer using any Apple device should have an account with the company for accountability and security purposes.

#3. Sign in to Apple Developer Site

This is the site where Apple has all its products and licenses to use them. Nevertheless, these are only provided to Apple users who have an account with them. Visit the developer site and sign in using your Apple ID. This is the key to accessing the site.

#4. Register your App ID for Push Notifications

The Push App is an application by itself whose use has to be allowed through passing through the right channel. Though still an application under Apple, there has to be registered for its service for safety reasons. In this registration, the name of the potential user is used. However, the bulk of the registration requirements are in the Apple ID which is why it is impossible to get this far without it. The conclusion of this step is signaled by the receivership of a message that the ID has been confirmed.

#5. The Configuration of the ID for Push Notifications

The presence of an account with the developers’ site or push app is not sufficient if there is no configuration of the ID for push notifications. For this process to be complete, the user has to gain the certificate.

#6. Choose the Type of Certificate

As part of the configuration process, the user is served with the option of acquiring a development or a production certificate. Choose both and proceed to the next step.

#7. Upholding of the CSR File

After choosing the relevant certificates, the CSR file that was generated at the start of the process is uploaded in order to finalize the creation of the APNS certificate. Nonetheless, in the instance that you did not have the file, then you should acquire it through the same procedure.

#8. Download the Certificate

Once the CSR file has been processed, a pop up appears showing that the certificate has been created and the only step remaining is downloading it. By clicking the section, the process of acquiring the certificate is complete and should be followed by adding it to your keychain.

#9. File Saving

In order to easily access the certificate, it is important to create a folder for it that you as the user can easily remember. This will ease future engagements with the push app services. Also, the file should be saved in the hard drive of the device. This is because the use of external hard drives may no longer be needed and their constant removal could mean the distortion of the normal functioning of the APNS program.

Issues Related to APNS

#1. Firewall Blockages

Normal functioning of the APNS program requires unlimited access to all the application present in the device. This aids in an optimal delegation of tasks. Nevertheless, there are applications that have firewalls which block the flow of notifications from the servers of the application. This slows down the carrying out of tasks or even stops the process entirely. This can be problematic especially if there is an urgent issue the user needs to address concerning a particular application on the device which was not relayed by the APNS.

#2. Uninstalling Push App

Like any other application, if you uninstall the Push App it ceases functioning. To avoid this, export the extension of the application from the external drive and save it on the internal hard drive. This will prevent any future installation issues.

#3. Linear Transfer of Information

Users at times assume that the APNS program can relay multiple notifications. It provides these notifications on a linear scale and thus its optimality should be upheld in order to relay notifications regularly.