A method, executed by a processor including a memory, for determining which electrical circuit from a plurality of circuits one or more electrical devices are connected, the method comprising:
- acquiring power information, by the processor, indicating a power amount supplied by each of the plurality of circuits to which the one or more electrical devices are respectively connected, which indicates a steady state of each of the plurality of circuits;
- outputting a command, by the processor, that causes a change in power consumption with respect to one of the electrical devices;
- and
- determining, by the processor, a connection relationship between the one electrical device and the circuit to which the one electrical device is connected, based on a change in the power information acquired in the acquiring,
- wherein, in the determining, it is determined whether or not a state of the power amounts supplied by each of the plurality of circuits is in the steady state from the plurality of items of power information acquired in the acquiring,
- wherein when it is determined that the state of the power amounts supplied by the plurality of circuits is in the steady state, the connection relationship is determined by causing the command for the one electrical device to be output in the outputting of the command and specifying that the circuit corresponding to the power information that includes the change in power consumption corresponding to the command that was output in the outputting of the command, from among the power information acquired in the acquiring, is the circuit to which the one electrical device is connected,
- wherein, in the determining, it is determined that the state of the power amounts supplied by the plurality of circuits is the steady state (i) when a fluctuation in the power amounts supplied in a prescribed period by at least one circuit from among the plurality of circuits indicates a prescribed pattern, and (ii) when the power amounts supplied in the prescribed period by a plurality of circuits, excluding the at least one circuit, are in the steady state,
- wherein, in the determining,
- when the power information that includes a time difference change amount for the power amount that is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value is detected from among the power information of the plurality of circuits, excluding the at least one circuit from among the plurality of circuits, the time difference change amount being a summed value of the power amount in a predetermined period within a prescribed time period from a time at which the command was issued in the outputting of the command, it is specified that the circuit corresponding to the detected power information is the circuit to which the one electrical device is connected, and
- when the power information that includes the time difference change amount for the power amount that is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value for the prescribed pattern is detected, from among the power information of the at least one circuit from within the prescribed time period, it is specified that the circuit corresponding to the detected power information is the circuit to which the one electrical device is connected, and
- wherein the determining determines the power amounts supplied in the prescribed period by the plurality of circuits, excluding the at least one circuit, are in the unsteady state when all of the time difference change amounts for the power amounts that are less than the predetermined value are detected from among the power information of the plurality of circuits, excluding the at least one circuit from among the plurality of circuits.