Abstract: In response to the issue of a request for processing long data from an application node to a server A, the server A sends a message requesting a server B for the processing of the long data. The server B requests the application node to transmit the long data to the server B by using a message, and receives the long data directly from the application node without passing through the server A. As a result, the overhead caused by transferring the long data from a server to a server of another node is eliminated, and the load of the network is reduced.

Abstract: A spring given elasticity by way of elastic portions formed between slits which are provided on a base material of, e.g. solid cylindrical shape, cylindrical pipe shape, etc. The slits are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the base material at different phase angles. They are arranged along the length of the material and parallel to each other. The elastic portions are disposed at different pitches along the length so that some of them have different elasticity from the others. The elasticity between some portions and the others may be varied by way of changing an inner diameter of a through hole formed in the spring. Thereby the spring has non-linear elasticity characteristics. The spring may have a through hole and a line of slit spirally extending about the axis and communicating with the through hole. A line of elastic portion is defined by the slit and also extends spirally about the axis of the spring. The width of the elastic portion is changed along the axis of the spring.