Abstract: A transmitting-end terminal device transmits an electronic mail including large-size data such as video data to a transmitting-end cache via a transmitting-end router. The transmitting-end cache temporarily stores the received data. A POB server authenticates a user of the transmitting-end terminal device and determines whether a receiving-end terminal device can receive the electronic mail. If the authentication of the user is successful and if it is determined that receiving-end terminal device can receive the electronic mail, the transmitting-end cache transmits the electronic mail directly to the receiving-end cache without passing it through the POB server. The receiving-end cache stores the received electronic mail and transmits a message, indicating that the electronic mail has arrived, to the receiving-end terminal device. In response to a request issued by the receiving-end terminal device, the receiving-end cache supplies the electronic mail stored therein to the receiving-end terminal device.

Abstract: In a communication method for performing data communication between communication devices via a network according to a predetermined mode, an attempt to establish the data communication according to a first communication mode is made. When the attempt has failed, another attempt to establish the data communication according to a second communication mode is made.

Abstract: A transmitting-end terminal device transmits an electronic mail including large-size data such as video data to a transmitting-end cache via a transmitting-end router. The transmitting-end cache temporarily stores the received data. A POB server authenticates a user of the transmitting-end terminal device and determines whether a receiving-end terminal device can receive the electronic mail. If the authentication of the user is successful and if it is determined that receiving-end terminal device can receive the electronic mail, the transmitting-end cache transmits the electronic mail directly to the receiving-end cache without passing it through the POB server. The receiving-end cache stores the received electronic mail and transmits a message, indicating that the electronic mail has arrived, to the receiving-end terminal device. In response to a request issued by the receiving-end terminal device, the receiving-end cache supplies the electronic mail stored therein to the receiving-end terminal device.

Abstract: A swash plate type compressor that provides long lasting high lubricating performance to the sliding contact surfaces of a swash plate and shoes. The surface of the swash plate or the shoes on which the swash plate comes in sliding contact with the shoes is provided with an alloy plating layer, in which tin is the main component, as a surface treating layer. A coating layer, in which molybdenum disulfide is the main component, is formed as a solid lubricant layer on the foregoing plating layer. Preferably, the swash plate is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and its surface is provided with the plating layer and the coating layer. More preferably, the coating layer contains graphite.

Abstract: A swash plate of a swash-plate compressor is subjected to sliding on shoes and is required to have excellent seizure resistance and wear resistance under the dry lubricating condition. The swash plate according to the present invention is provided with the surface-treated layer, i,e., the intermediate layer consisting of Cu, Sn or metal phosphate, and a sliding contact layer consisting of MoS.sub.2 and/or graphite and thermosetting resin.

Abstract: A compressor has pistons slidably housed in cylinder bores. Respective shoes slide against each of the pistons and a swash plate or cam to convert rotation of the swash plate to reciprocation of the pistons. Each piston has a recess for slidably receiving the shoe. A friction reducing layer containing tin as a major component is formed between the shoe and the piston. Additionally, a tin-based layer may be formed between the shoe and the swash plate.

Abstract: A swash plate type compressor is provided with a surface coating layer on the surface of a swash plate. The surface coating layer acts to prevent the frictional resistance which leads to seizure conventionally occurring by the direct contact of the shoes and the swash plate body. The swash plate body is produced from aluminum or aluminum alloy and the surface coating layer is made of tin and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, zinc, lead and indium.

Abstract: A shoe incorporated into a swash plate type compressor as a drive force transmitting element intervened between a rotatable swash plate and a reciprocal piston has a first member made of a seizure-resistant material such as ceramic and hard metal, and has a flattened contact face in slidable contact with the swash plate, and a second member made of less seizure-resistant material but easily machined and having a spherical bearing face slidably engaged with the piston, the first and second members being joined together to form a unitary element.