System and method for rapid input and configuration of sensors for a HVAC monitoring system

A computer based system for controlling use of a plurality of sensors present within a predetermined environment and controlling how various ones of the sensors are grouped together into a plurality of groups for monitoring/control purposes, the system comprising:

• a processor for communicating with the plurality of sensors and using data reported from the sensors to generate a metric therefrom, the processor further configured to receive temperature data from the plurality of sensors, the processor communicating with a computer having a display system;
• a user interface system module adapted to run on the computer, the user interface system module being in communication with the processor and configured to generate a graphical user interface on the display system;
• at least one of a touchscreen display system or a mouse, in communication with the computer based system, for enabling the user to interface with the user interface system module;
• the graphical user interface being controlled by the computer based system and configured to generate an association matrix screen on the display system, the association matrix screen including a plurality of fields arranged in an X-Y matrix array for indicating a group assignment for each one of the plurality of sensors, and enabling a user to change a group assignment for any given one of the plurality of sensors;
• the graphical user interface responsive to at least one of a touchscreen or mouse input signal to enable a user to make a selection of a specific one of the fields, and wherein the selection operates to either associate or disassociate a selected one of the plurality of sensors with a specific group, and wherein two or more ones one of the plurality of sensors are able to be associated with two or more different groups of sensors;
• a plurality of information tabs disposed adjacent the X-Y matrix for identifying each said group of sensors;
• and
• wherein all of the groups with which a given said sensor is associated with are displayed on the associated matrix screen along with a separate information tab associated with each said group of sensors, each said information tab providing information on a performance of at least a subplurality of the sensors associated with a given said group of sensors.

A method for controlling use of a plurality of sensors present within a predetermined environment and controlling how various ones of the sensors are grouped together into a plurality of groups for monitoring and/or control purposes, the method comprising:

• using a processor to communicate with the plurality of sensors and using data reported from the sensors to generate a metric therefrom, the processor further receiving temperature data from designated groups of the plurality of sensors, the processor communicating with a computer having a display system;
• using a user interface system module adapted to run on the computer, the user interface system module being in communication with the processor and configured to generate a graphical user interface on the display system;
• and
• the graphical user interface being controlled by the computer and configured to generate an association matrix screen on the display system, the association matrix screen including a plurality of fields arranged in a matrix array for indicating a group assignment for each one of the plurality of sensors, and
• using at least one of a touchscreen input or a mouse to enable the user to input a group assignment for any given one of the plurality of sensors by making a selection of a specific one of the fields, and the selection operates to either associate or disassociate a selected one of the plurality of sensors with a specific group, and wherein any one of the plurality of sensors is able to be associated with more than one different group of the sensors using at least one of the touchscreen input or the mouse;
• and
• wherein all of the groups with which a given said sensor is associated with are displayed on the associated matrix screen along with a separate information tab associated with each said group, each said information tab providing information on a performance of at least a subplurality of the sensors associated with a given said group of sensors.