Patent ID: 8570867

Claim:
A network cluster comprising: a plurality of cell-based routers in a communication network, each of the cell-based routers comprising: a memory storing computer instructions; and a controller coupled to the memory, wherein the controller, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising: receiving provisioning information including an initial provisioned transport rate based on a number of sessions of traffic that can be accommodated within a non-congested operating range of a frame-based router among a plurality of frame-based routers in the communication network; and adjusting a cell transmission rate, resulting in an adjusted cell transmission rate, according to the initial provisioned transport rate prior to an occurrence of congestion of downstream traffic at the plurality of frame-based routers, wherein cell-based traffic is routed to a bidirectional cell and frame based switch according to updated bandwidth comprising the adjusted cell transmission rate, and wherein the bidirectional cell and frame based switch is coupled between the plurality of cell-based routers and the plurality of frame-based routers.