Abstract: In a software management apparatus, a storage unit stores use order information that indicates in what order a plurality of pieces of software are used upon request from a first information processing apparatus. Based on the progress of software running on a plurality of second information processing apparatuses and the use order information stored in the storage unit, a prediction unit predicts which software the first information processing apparatus is expected to request in the next place. An installation unit installs the software predicted by the prediction unit on one of the second information processing apparatuses.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and apparatus to find out an optimum solution in automatic routing or automatic placement with certainty and at a high-speed to improve a routing rate, and to realize automatic routing in a high-density. To these end, a routing approach is selected in a conversational mode while routing efficiency is consulted to compose routing processing procedure so as to generate a routing program. Besides, component placement processing procedures designated according to placement control information are combined to generate the placement program. A straight line between component pins adjacent to each other is defined as a chord, a wave for maze method routing is generated from a start point toward an end point of a routing path and propagated between the chords adjacent to each other.