Abstract: A storing unit stores therein contract information indicating, with respect to each of a plurality of devices rented to a user and included in a system, an expiration time point at which a rental contract of each of the plurality of devices expires and communication channel information indicating inter-device communication channels between the plurality of devices. A processing unit determines, based on the contract information and the communication channel information, a second device to experience effect of expiration of the rental contract of a first device at a first time point amongst the plurality of devices, and outputs information indicating the effect on the second device.

Abstract: A management apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine a relationship state between a plurality of snapshots, a setting unit configured to set importance level information for each snapshot on the basis of the relationship state determined, and a deletion processing unit configured to preferentially delete a snapshot of which importance level information is the lowest, so that a snapshot of which importance level is low can be easily determined from among the plurality of snapshots.