Method and apparatus for sharing radio frequency spectrum in a radio frequency communication system

摘要

A radio frequency communication system is coupled to a telephone network having automatic number identification (ANI) capabilities for communication thereover. The radio frequency communication system includes at least one relocateable base station (115) which shares a radio frequency channel with stationary communication devices for communicating over predetermined geographic areas. The radio frequency communication system further includes a service center (125) which, in response to a call from a base station (115), receives from the telephone network information indicative of at least a portion of a telephone number from which the base station (115) is calling. The service center (125) determines therefrom whether the base station (115) is located within any of the predetermined geographic areas. When the base station (115) is not located within any of the predetermined geographic areas, the service center (125) transmits an authorization signal over the telephone network indicating that the base station (115) is authorized for radio frequency communication over the shared radio frequency channel.