Patent ID: 7062747

Claim:
A method of preparing layout data of patterns formed in a scribe area, the method comprising: preparing library data on which a plurality of patterns and an arrangement limiting condition, a pattern attribution, and a size of each pattern are registered; selecting a pattern to be arranged in the scribe area from the library data; setting an order of priority of pattern arrangement position on the basis of the arrangement limiting condition and the pattern attribution of each pattern; arranging the selected pattern in the scribe area, in accordance with the order of priority; determining whether all the selected patterns can be arranged in the scribe area; when an unarranged pattern exists, embedding the unarranged pattern in a free area except the areas of already arranged patterns; determining whether all the selected patterns can be arranged in the scribe area after the embedding; and when an unarranged pattern exists, performing spec down processing for changing at least one of the arrangement limiting condition or the pattern size of the unarranged pattern.