System and method for global load balancing of requests for content

A non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon for execution by a programmable processor to perform a method for directing a user request for content over a network to a given content server on the basis of one or more rules, the computer readable media comprising:

• instructions for receiving a request for content from a user, the request for content including a profile of the user identifying one or more characteristics associated with the user;
• instructions for retrieving one or more rules for identifying a content server to which a request for content is to be delivered, the one or more rules including at least one of business rules, network rules, or user profile rules, wherein the instructions for retrieving one or more business rules comprises instructions for retrieving one or more rules for determining a content server to which the request for content is to be delivered based upon one or more quality of service guarantees to which the user is entitled;
• instructions for applying the one or more retrieved rules to the request for content to identify a content server to which the request for content is to be delivered;
• and
• instructions for delivering the request for content to the identified content server.

A system for directing a user request for content over a network to a given content server on the basis of one or more rules, the system comprising:

• a rules engine operative to store one or more rules for identifying a content server to which a request for content is to be delivered, the one or more rules including at least one of business rules, network rules, and or user profile rules;
• and
• a site redirection server operative to:
• receive a request for content from a user, the request for content including a profile of the user identifying one or more characteristics associated with the user;
• retrieve the one or more rules stored in the rules engine, wherein the site redirection server is operative to retrieve and apply one or more business rules for determining a content server to which the request for content is to be delivered based upon one or more or more quality of service guarantees to which the user is entitled;
• apply the one or more retrieved rules to the request for content from the user;
• and
• deliver the request for content to the identified content server.