A computerized method for determining a congestion level for a buffer associated with an SS7 link according to a first set of congestion rules includes receiving an abatement level and an onset level for the buffer. The method also includes generating, based on the received abatement level and the received onset level, more than two threshold levels for use by the congestion program. The congestion program is operable to generate a congestion level for the buffer according to a second set of rules different from the first set of rules. The method also includes providing the threshold levels to the congestion program, receiving from the congestion program a congestion level for the buffer based on the threshold values, the usage of the buffer, and the second set of rules, and converting the received congestion level into a converted congestion level.