PURPOSE:To process a large amount of variable length data at a high speed and to improve the efficiency of sorting processing, by performing the sorting processing and also providing each element with a means of allowing data which corresponds to input data word length to pass a trailing processing element. CONSTITUTION:Memories MA1 and MA2, and MB1 and MB2 having the first- in first-out function, and processors P1 and P2 which compare and process data stored in said memories according to a prescribed rule, and output the results successively are cascaded. Further, a processor P3 connected to the memories MA3 and MB3 is connected to the output side of the processor P2; the memories MA1 and MB1 are given one-word length, the memories MA2 and MB2 are given two-word length, and the memories MA3 and MB3 are given three-word length. Then, the processors P1-P3 read data out of the memories successively to compare them, and store the compared data in trailing memories, thus processing a large amount of variable length data at a high speed.
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