Patent ID: 7672993

Claim:
A system, comprising: one or more computer servers configured to receive location data of a plurality of handheld electronic devices using a wireless network, generate automobile traffic information using the received location data of the plurality of handheld electronic devices, and provide the automobile traffic information generated to a computer; wherein the one or more computer servers are configured to store identification data for the plurality of handheld electronic devices, receive from the plurality of handheld electronic devices an indication of the type of location data each of the plurality of handheld electronic devices is configured to capture, compare the type of location data each of the plurality of handheld electronic devices is configured to capture to a desired type of location data, and determine whether the plurality of handheld electronic devices are appropriate to contribute to the automobile traffic information based on whether each of the handheld electronic devices is configured to capture the desired type of location data; and wherein the one or more computer servers are configured to select the plurality of handheld electronic devices for generating the automobile traffic information based on the determination.