Patent ID: 8180896

Claim:
A global load balancing system for use in a content delivery network having a plurality of edge servers, comprising a first load balancing server for balancing a load across a first plurality of edge servers, the first load balancing server comprising an input port for receiving a packet requesting content to be delivered to a client, a processor for selecting one of a second plurality of edge servers associated with a second load balancing server to deliver at least a portion of the content requested by the packet to the client, wherein the second plurality of edge servers is different from the first plurality of edge servers, and a packet switch for forwarding the packet across a network connection to the second load balancing server having a packet switch for forwarding the packet to the selected edge server of the second plurality of edge servers, wherein the selected edge server, in response to receiving the packet, sends across a network connection at least a portion of the requested content with an address for direct delivery to the client, thereby allowing the at least a portion of the requested content to be delivered to the client while bypassing a return path through the first load balancing server.