Staged deployment of rendezvous tables in a content delivery network (cdn)

Abstract

A computer-implemented method in a content delivery network (CDN), wherein the CDN delivers content on behalf of at least one content provider. The CDN includes a rendezvous system that selects CDN servers for clients. In response to a request by a rendezvous mechanism in the rendezvous system, a first given function is evaluated. Based on the outcome of the evaluating, the rendezvous mechanism uses either a first table or a second table. The first table was generated by a first table generation mechanism for use by said rendezvous mechanism to select CDN servers for clients, and the second table was generated by a second table generation mechanism for use by the rendezvous mechanism to select CDN servers for clients.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method in a content delivery network (CDN), wherein said CDN delivers content on behalf of at least one content provider, and wherein the CDN includes a rendezvous system that selects CDN servers for clients, the method comprising:
 in response to a request by a rendezvous mechanism in said rendezvous system, evaluating a first given function; and   based on the outcome of said evaluating, said rendezvous mechanism using either a first table or a second table, wherein   said first given function is indicative of a transition rate from using said first table to using said second table, wherein   said first table was generated by a first table generation mechanism, is wherein   said second table was generated by a second table generation mechanism, and wherein   said first given function evaluates to either a first value or a second value.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, said first table is used when said first given function evaluates to said first value, and said second table is used when said first given function evaluates to said second value. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said first given function initially evaluates to said first value more than to said second value based on the transition rate, and wherein said first given function evaluates increasingly to said second value over time based on the transition rate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said first given function evaluates to said second value linearly over time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said first given function evaluates to said second value exponentially over time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein, after a certain time, said first given function evaluates only to said second value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said first table continues to be produced after said certain time. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said first given function comprises a selection based on a value set by an operator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said first given function is based on an element of the request. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein a selection is policy specified in a configuration of the name being resolved.