Patent attributes
An identification value generator included in a data processing apparatus generates, from data pieces collected from an FA device, at least one identity identification value. The identity identification value is a value for determining an identity of the data pieces. The update determiner determines whether current data and previous data are identical based on a current identification value and a previous identification value. The current data includes the data pieces currently collected, and the previous data includes the data pieces previously collected. The current identification value includes the identity identification value generated from the current data, and the previous identification value includes the identity identification value generated from the previous data. A data distribution controller distributes the current data to a data processor when the update determiner determines that the current data and the previous data are not identical.