METHOD AND APPARATUS TO LIMIT FREQUENCY BANDS USED BY A LOW POWER RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICE

A method and corresponding apparatus for use by a low power radio frequency (LPRF) device intended to communicate with other LPRF devices on an LPRF ban d when both the LPRF band location and its width can vary by country, the invention for determining in what country the LPRF device is being used, and so the band and bandwidth that should be used, and for ensuring that the LPR F does not communicate on an LPRF band that is not likely the correct band, or is not a band indicated by a user. The invention assesses clues to determine if any particular country is reasonably likely to be the country where the device is being used, and if no such country is determined, and if a user interface is available, the device queries a user. The clues used include a country code embedded in the LPRF device; a country code extracted from a cellular signal that conveys a country code, such as a GSM signal, if such a cellular signal is available; and any country codes issued by other, nearby LPRF devices and overheard (detected) by the LPRF device in monitoring a globally available LPRF service band.