Patent ID: 7706280

Claim:
A content delivery network (CDN) for delivering content objects over the Internet, the CDN comprising: a point of presence (POP), wherein: the POP is coupled to a plurality of full-route networks, each of the plurality of full-route networks delivering content objects to a plurality of terminal networks, the plurality of terminal networks comprise a first terminal network, and the plurality of terminal networks are coupled to a plurality of end users; a content object request interface that receives requests for content objects for delivery to the plurality of end users using the plurality of terminal networks; and a routing function that routes content objects in at least two modes, wherein: a first mode routes content objects based upon a first route path from the POP to the first terminal network, the first route path is chosen based upon efficiency based upon an efficiency algorithm, a second mode routes at least some content objects using a second route path when at least a portion of the first route path reaches a level of use, the second mode and the first mode are both simultaneously used to route content objects after the portion of the first route path exceeds the level of use, the second route path is chosen without considering delivery efficiency as defined by the efficiency algorithm, use of the second route path in the second mode is less efficient than use the first route path in the second mode according to the efficiency algorithm, and the first and second route paths egress to different full-route networks.