A method determining distribution of a shared resource among nodes in a network includes: identifying each node according to a function performed by the node as one of a first node-type, second node-type, or third node type. A target service level is identified for each node. A first parameter representing the at least one respective target service level is communicated for each respective second node with a communicatively coupled first node. A second parameter representing the at least one respective target service level is communicated for each respective third node with a communicatively coupled first node. Each respective first node coordinates communication to cooperatively apply an optimizing algorithm to allocate the shared resource among the first nodes.