Patent ID: 8521636

Claim:
A computer implemented method of providing an automated spectrum exchange in which spectrum is a tradable commodity, comprising: receiving data from a spectrum holder that defines a spectrum offering by frequency, time, and geographic area to identify available spectrum from the holder; storing the spectrum offering in a database as a posting of the spectrum offering; receiving a spectrum query that defines aspects of spectrum being sought by a spectrum user; matching the spectrum query to one or more spectrum offerings with a matching engine of an automated spectrum exchange computer system; and hosting a transactional process with the automated spectrum exchange computer system, including: receiving a bid or rebid from the spectrum user for a matched spectrum offering; and receiving a counteroffer from the spectrum holder that posted the matched spectrum offering; wherein, for the storing, matching and hosting steps, the spectrum offering, spectrum query, bid, rebid, and counteroffer each specify price, frequency, time, and geographic area information, the geographic area is expressed in a standardized format by: logically sectioning a geographical area serviced by the automated spectrum exchange into uniformly sized and shaped grid cells; assigning a unique identifier to each grid cell; and identifying the respective geographic area of each of the spectrum offering, spectrum query, bid, rebid, and counteroffer with corresponding grid cell identifiers; and wherein the matching performed by the matching engine to generate the matched spectrum offering includes identifying that at least one of the grid cell identifiers of the spectrum query is the same as at least one of the grid cell identifiers of the matched spectrum offering.