An apparatus comprising: a plurality of data processing apparatuses, each of the plurality of data processing apparatuses including: a first pipeline which includes a plurality of first nodes (310, 330) connected in series and is adapted to shift first data held in each first node to a neighboring node located in a first direction; a second pipeline which includes a plurality of second nodes (370, 380) connected in series and is adapted to shift second data held in each second node to a neighboring node located in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein each first node corresponds to one of the plurality of second nodes; and an operation means, for each of the first nodes of the first pipeline, said operation means comprising two comparison circuits (342, 344) which are adapted to simultaneously execute a comparison operation of first data held in the respective first node with second data held in a second node, to which the respective first node corresponds, and second data held in a neighboring node of the second node, to which the respective first node corresponds, on an upstream side in the second direction, wherein the plurality of data processing apparatuses are grouped into a plurality of groups such that each group comprises at least two data processing apparatuses, a first input means which is adapted to input, in parallel, replicated first data to the first pipelines of the at least two data processing apparatuses in the group for each group; a second input means (545_1, 545_2,..., 545_N) which is adapted to input the second data to the second pipeline of one of the at least two data processing apparatuses in the group for each group; and a connection means (544_1, 544_2,..., 544_N, 545_1, 545_2,..., 545_N) which is adapted to, for each group, connect in series the second pipelines of the at least two data processing apparatuses in the group. a plurality of data processing apparatuses, each of the plurality of data processing apparatuses including: a first pipeline which includes a plurality of first nodes (310, 330) connected in series and is adapted to shift first data held in each first node to a neighboring node located in a first direction; a second pipeline which includes a plurality of second nodes (370, 380) connected in series and is adapted to shift second data held in each second node to a neighboring node located in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein each first node corresponds to one of the plurality of second nodes; and an operation means, for each of the first nodes of the first pipeline, said operation means comprising two comparison circuits (342, 344) which are adapted to simultaneously execute a comparison operation of first data held in the respective first node with second data held in a second node, to which the respective first node corresponds, and second data held in a neighboring node of the second node, to which the respective first node corresponds, on an upstream side in the second direction, a first pipeline which includes a plurality of first nodes (310, 330) connected in series and is adapted to shift first data held in each first node to a neighboring node located in a first direction; a second pipeline which includes a plurality of second nodes (370, 380) connected in series and is adapted to shift second data held in each second node to a neighboring node located in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein each first node corresponds to one of the plurality of second nodes; and an operation means, for each of the first nodes of the first pipeline, said operation means comprising two comparison circuits (342, 344) which are adapted to simultaneously execute a comparison operation of first data held in the respective first node with second data held in a second node, to which the respective first node corresponds, and second data held in a neighboring node of the second node, to which the respective first node corresponds, on an upstream side in the second direction, wherein the plurality of data processing apparatuses are grouped into a plurality of groups such that each group comprises at least two data processing apparatuses, a first input means which is adapted to input, in parallel, replicated first data to the first pipelines of the at least two data processing apparatuses in the group for each group; a second input means (545_1, 545_2,..., 545_N) which is adapted to input the second data to the second pipeline of one of the at least two data processing apparatuses in the group for each group; and a connection means (544_1, 544_2,..., 544_N, 545_1, 545_2,..., 545_N) which is adapted to, for each group, connect in series the second pipelines of the at least two data processing apparatuses in the group.