Patent ID: 6990336

Claim:
A data collection system, comprising: a monitoring facility in communication with a wireless communications network and programmed to recognize received messages transmitted by a mobile reporting module at first prearranged times to mean that the mobile reporting module has deemed coverage by the network to be available, and to recognize received messages transmitted by the mobile reporting module at second prearranged times to mean that the mobile reporting module has deemed coverage by the network to be unknown; one or more mobile reporting modules programmed to re-register with the monitoring facility via a wireless communications network by performing operations comprising: determining whether or not wireless coverage is available via the wireless network; if the coverage is determined to be available, transmitting a registration request upon one of the first prearranged times; if coverage is determined to be unavailable, refraining from transmitting the registration request; and if the coverage availability is unable to be determined, transmitting a registration request upon one of the second prearranged times.