Patent ID: 8909462
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
1. A method for providing traffic flow control services, the method comprising: receiving requests, at an arbiter of a traffic control subsystem, the arbiter including a computer processor, the traffic control subsystem is in a first state, the requests received from vehicle transmitters of vehicles that are commuting in proximity of the traffic control subsystem; applying, via the computer processor, a pre-defined condition to the requests; and implementing, via the computer processor, a traffic flow control activity responsive to application of the pre-defined condition, the traffic flow control activity including one of: maintaining the first state, and changing the first state of the traffic control subsystem to a second state; wherein each of the requests is implemented as a bid representing a number of units, each of the units associated with a monetary value, and the arbiter is configured to receive a bid level corresponding to the number of units generated for each of the requests; wherein the traffic control subsystem is a set of traffic lights at an intersection, the method further comprising: appealing, via a portion of the requests from a first set of vehicles facing a first direction at the intersection, to change a traffic light in the set of traffic lights from the first state to the second state; and appealing, via another portion of the requests from a second set of vehicles facing a second direction at the intersection, to maintain in the first state a traffic light in the set of traffic lights.