Use of vehicle permissions to control individual operator parameters in a hierarchical traffic control system

A method for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) communicating a third party permission for the vehicle to the traffic control system;
• and
• (b) taking appropriate action if the third party permission is violated.

A traffic control system comprising:

• a primary controller, the primary controller for receiving information about traffic in an area, the primary controller including a first plurality of participant objects;
• and
• a plurality of subsidiary controllers for providing information to and receiving information from the primary controller, each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers including a second plurality of participant objects, each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers being associated with a cell within the area, each cell being represented as a plurality of segment objects;
• each of the subsidiary controllers receiving and providing information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell, wherein the primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions, wherein at least one vehicle includes a third-party permission for operation and third-party permission is communicated to a participant object within one of the controllers.

A method for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) communicating a third party permission for the vehicle to at least one participant object of the traffic control system;
• and
• (b) taking appropriate action if the third party permission is violated.

A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a vehicle by a traffic control system;

• the program instructions for:
• (a) communicating a third party permission for the vehicle to the traffic control system;
• and
• (b) taking appropriate action if the third party permission is violated.