The frame-based accounting feature extends this capability to allow the policer or queue CIR and PIR thresholds to be defined as frame-based values as opposed to packet-based values. The policer or queue continues to internally use its packet-based mechanisms, but the provisioned frame-based CIR and PIR values are continuously revalued based on the ratio between the calculated frame-based offered load and actual packet-based offered load. As a result, the operational packet-based CIR and PIR of the policer or queue are accurately modified during each iteration of the virtual scheduler to represent the provisioned frame-based CIR and PIR. Packet byte offset settings are not included in the applied rate when frame-based accounting is configured, however the offsets are applied to the statistics.