Patent ID: 8249966

Claim:
A method of transferring spectrum use rights, comprising: ascertaining information regarding available spectrum for use in wireless communications with a spectrum management apparatus, the available spectrum from a plurality of different parties that each hold spectrum use rights and specified in terms of time, geography and frequency, the available spectrum representing a temporary release of spectrum use rights by each corresponding party holding the use rights, the available spectrum dynamically changing as new releases of spectrum use rights are made and as prior releases of spectrum use rights elapse; receiving a request for spectrum use with the spectrum management apparatus from a spectrum user system, the request defining a need for spectrum by a wireless radio apparatus of the spectrum user system; matching the request with available spectrum using an expert system of the spectrum management apparatus by: treating the available spectrum as one or more spectrum commodity items that each have a time dimension, a geography dimension and a frequency dimension that combine to define an available spectrum fragment; and automatically matching the need for spectrum with at least a portion of one of the spectrum commodity items; and issuing an electronic spectrum certificate from the spectrum management apparatus to the spectrum user system as a temporary transfer of spectrum use rights from the spectrum use rights holder to the spectrum user system, the spectrum certificate electronically binding the wireless radio apparatus of the spectrum user system to at least one spectrum-related variable under which the wireless radio apparatus of the spectrum user system is to engage in wireless communications.