Patent ID: 8212688
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling traffic signals at a road intersection which has a plurality of signal groups, each signal group controlling at least one direction of traffic within the intersection, the method executed by a controller and comprising steps: (i) obtaining and utilising traffic data to calculate a current traffic state and the rate of change in the traffic state; (ii) formulating at least one action and the duration of said action in response to the calculations obtained in step (i), wherein each action comprises switching at least one traffic signal; (iii) resolving one or more policies based on the calculations obtained in step (i) and the action formulated in step (ii); (iv) applying a continuous decision making process comprising an optimisation for a semi-Markov decision process to evaluate a reward for the policies resolved in step (iii), said optimisation comprising steps: (v) selecting a policy that maximizes the reward and switching at least one traffic signal according to the selected policy.