In a system including a collection of cooperating cache servers, such as proxy cache servers, a request can be forwarded to a cooperating cache server if the requested object cannot be found locally. An overload condition is detected if for example, due to reference skew, some objects are in high demand...http://www.google.ca/patents/US6438652?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6438652 - Load balancing cooperating cache servers by shifting forwarded request
