Patent ID: 8554456

Claim:
A computer implemented method comprising: gathering observational traffic data at each of a plurality of traffic controller nodes, wherein each of the traffic controller nodes communicates the gathered observational traffic data with one or more other traffic controller nodes via a network, wherein the observational traffic data includes one or more vehicle packets traveling on one or more routes that are managed by each of the corresponding traffic controller nodes, wherein the vehicle packets are identified based upon gaps between the packets; negotiating a plurality of traffic control parameters between a selected one of the plurality of traffic controller nodes and a related set of one or more traffic controller nodes, wherein the negotiating further comprises: receiving a timing proposal from each of the traffic controller nodes included in the related set; analyzing, by one or more processors, at the selected traffic controller node, the received timing proposals based on the selected traffic controller's gathered observational traffic data; preparing a plurality of negotiation responses in response to the analysis; sending the negotiation responses to the traffic controller nodes included in the related set; and adjusting the traffic control parameters that control a current cycle time that corresponds to the selected traffic controller node, wherein the adjusting is based on the analysis.