Patent ID: 7020698

Claim:
A method for selecting a content server in a network including a plurality of content servers and at least one redirection server, comprising: (a) creating client clusters using the steps of: (a1) identifying clients having similar network distance proterties; (a2) grouping distance tuples using content server ID and classless inter-domain routing address (CIDR) prefix similarity to define grouping data values, a distance tuple comprising at least one of a network distance, a content server identifier, a time-stamp, and a client internet protocol (IP) address; (a3) storing the data values at leaf nodes of a hierarchical tree structure having a root node representing CIDR space and a plurallty of interior and leaf nodes, said data values including load information, network distances, and a number of the tuples; and (a4) defining the client clusters by combining leaf nodes having sufficient similarity into parent nodes and identifying remaining leaf nodes as the client clusters; (b) identifying at least one best-performing content server for each of said client clusters by selecting at least one content server having a minimal network distance to the client cluster; and (c) mapping the client clusters with the at least one best-performing content server.