I'm using reactive extensions to collate data into buffers of 100ms:
this.subscription = this.dataService
.Where(x => !string.Equals("FOO", x.Key.Source))
.Buffer(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(100))
.ObserveOn(this.dispatcherService)
.Where(x => x.Count != 0)
.Subscribe(this.OnBufferReceived);
This works fine. However, I want slightly different behavior than that provided by the Buffer
operation. Essentially, I want to reset the timer if another data item is received. Only when no data has been received for the entire 100ms do I want to handle it. This opens up the possibility of never handling the data, so I should also be able to specify a maximum count. I would imagine something along the lines of:
.SlidingBuffer(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(100), 10000)
I've had a look around and haven't been able to find anything like this in Rx? Can anyone confirm/deny this?
I wrote an extension to do most of what you're after - BufferWithInactivity
.
Here it is:
public static IObservable<IEnumerable<T>> BufferWithInactivity<T>(
this IObservable<T> source,
TimeSpan inactivity,
int maximumBufferSize)
{
return Observable.Create<IEnumerable<T>>(o =>
{
var gate = new object();
var buffer = new List<T>();
var mutable = new SerialDisposable();
var subscription = (IDisposable)null;
var scheduler = Scheduler.ThreadPool;
Action dump = () =>
{
var bts = buffer.ToArray();
buffer = new List<T>();
if (o != null)
{
o.OnNext(bts);
}
};
Action dispose = () =>
{
if (subscription != null)
{
subscription.Dispose();
}
mutable.Dispose();
};
Action<Action<IObserver<IEnumerable<T>>>> onErrorOrCompleted =
onAction =>
{
lock (gate)
{
dispose();
dump();
if (o != null)
{
onAction(o);
}
}
};
Action<Exception> onError = ex =>
onErrorOrCompleted(x => x.OnError(ex));
Action onCompleted = () => onErrorOrCompleted(x => x.OnCompleted());
Action<T> onNext = t =>
{
lock (gate)
{
buffer.Add(t);
if (buffer.Count == maximumBufferSize)
{
dump();
mutable.Disposable = Disposable.Empty;
}
else
{
mutable.Disposable = scheduler.Schedule(inactivity, () =>
{
lock (gate)
{
dump();
}
});
}
}
};
subscription =
source
.ObserveOn(scheduler)
.Subscribe(onNext, onError, onCompleted);
return () =>
{
lock (gate)
{
o = null;
dispose();
}
};
});
}
This is possible by combining the built-in Window
and Throttle
methods of Observable
. First, let's solve the simpler problem where we ignore the maximum count condition:
public static IObservable<IList<T>> BufferUntilInactive<T>(this IObservable<T> stream, TimeSpan delay)
{
var closes = stream.Throttle(delay);
return stream.Window(() => closes).SelectMany(window => window.ToList());
}
The powerful Window
method did the heavy lifting. Now it's easy enough to see how to add a maximum count:
public static IObservable<IList<T>> BufferUntilInactive<T>(this IObservable<T> stream, TimeSpan delay, Int32? max=null)
{
var closes = stream.Throttle(delay);
if (max != null)
{
var overflows = stream.Where((x,index) => index+1>=max);
closes = closes.Merge(overflows);
}
return stream.Window(() => closes).SelectMany(window => window.ToList());
}
I'll write a post explaining this on my blog. https://gist.github.com/2244036
Documentation for the Window method:
- http://leecampbell.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/rx-part-9join-window-buffer-and-group.html
- http://enumeratethis.com/2011/07/26/financial-charts-reactive-extensions/
With Rx Extensions 2.0, your can answer both requirements with a new Buffer overload accepting a timeout and a size:
this.subscription = this.dataService
.Where(x => !string.Equals("FOO", x.Key.Source))
.Buffer(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(100), 1)
.ObserveOn(this.dispatcherService)
.Where(x => x.Count != 0)
.Subscribe(this.OnBufferReceived);
See https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh229200(v=vs.103).aspx for the documentation.
I guess this can be implemented on top of Buffer method as shown below:
public static IObservable<IList<T>> SlidingBuffer<T>(this IObservable<T> obs, TimeSpan span, int max)
{
return Observable.CreateWithDisposable<IList<T>>(cl =>
{
var acc = new List<T>();
return obs.Buffer(span)
.Subscribe(next =>
{
if (next.Count == 0) //no activity in time span
{
cl.OnNext(acc);
acc.Clear();
}
else
{
acc.AddRange(next);
if (acc.Count >= max) //max items collected
{
cl.OnNext(acc);
acc.Clear();
}
}
}, err => cl.OnError(err), () => { cl.OnNext(acc); cl.OnCompleted(); });
});
}
NOTE: I haven't tested it, but I hope it gives you the idea.