Routing under heavy loading

A delivery network for assisting delivery of content objects over an Internet, the delivery network comprising:

• a network outlet, wherein:
• the network outlet is coupled to a plurality of full-route networks comprising at least a first full-route network and a second full-route network,
• each of the plurality of full-route networks is capable of delivering content objects to a plurality of terminal networks,
• the plurality of terminal networks comprise a terminal network, and
• the plurality of terminal networks are coupled to a plurality of end user computers;
• the network outlet comprises:
• an interface that receives content object requests for delivery of content objects to the plurality of end user computers;
• and
• a routing function that distributes the content object requests in at least two modes, wherein:
• a first mode distributes the content object requests such that the requested content objects are routed to the terminal network based upon a first route path,
• the first route path is chosen based upon at least one of delivery cost or delivery efficiency,
• a second mode distributes the content object requests such that a portion of the requested content objects are routed to the terminal network using a second route path,
• switching from the first mode to the second mode is triggered when:
• at least of a portion of the first route path reaches a predetermined level of use, wherein the predetermined level of use is below saturation, or
• a quality of service (QoS) measure of the first route path degrades to a threshold level,
• the first route path comprises the first full-route network and the second route path comprises the second full-route network, and the first and second full-route networks are different, and
• the second route path is less efficient and/or more costly than the first route path.

A method for delivering content objects over an Internet, the method comprising steps of:

• receiving, at an interface of a network outlet, content object requests for delivery of content objects to an address on the Internet, the address being associated with an end user computer coupled to a terminal network;
• determining that a first egress point of the network outlet and a second egress point of the network outlet are capable of routing to the address, the first egress point is coupled with a first full-route network and the second egress point is coupled with a second full-route network, wherein the first and second full-route networks are different;
• determining that the first egress point is a less costly route to the terminal network than the second egress point;
• determining that the less Costly route is working and unsaturated, but utilized beyond a first threshold or exhibiting a quality of service (QoS) below a second threshold;
• and
• distributing the content object requests such that:
• a first portion of the content objects with the first egress point, and
• a second portion of the content objects with the second egress point while the less costly route is utilized beyond the first threshold or the QoS is below the second threshold.

A method for delivering content objects over an Internet, the method comprising steps of:

• receiving, at an interface of a network outlet, content object requests for delivery of content objects to an end user computer, wherein the end user computer is indicated by an address;
• determining that the address is associated with a terminal network;
• determining that a first egress point of the network outlet, a second egress point of the network outlet and a third egress point of the network outlet route to the terminal network, wherein the first egress point is coupled with a first full-route network, the second and third egress points are coupled with at least a second full-route network and the first and second full-route networks are different;
• determining that the first egress point is a more efficient route to the terminal network;
• determining that the more efficient route is characterized by a quality of service (QoS) measurement below a threshold level;
• and
• delivering:
• a first portion of the content objects with the first egress point, and
• a second portion of the content objects with the second and third egress points while the QoS measurement of the efficient route is below the threshold level.