Methods, systems, and computer program products for remotely updating security systems

1. A method for remotely updating a security system, said method comprising:

searching a database of panel information for at least one security system panel to update, the database storing information relating to a plurality of security system panels;

defining a messaging sequence exchange between a user system, a host system, and a gateway remote from the user system, the gateway in communication with a security system panel;

receiving an update from the user system at the host system, the update comprising a software or firmware update for the security system panel, and wherein the update is stored in a database of updates and the security system panel is one of the plurality of security system panels;

identifying a version of the update by searching the database of updates;

requesting the gateway for a current version of the gateway;

receiving an indication at the host system that the version of the update rr a ches the current version of the gateway;

transmitting, in response to receiving the indication, the update from the host system to the security panel via the gateway using the messaging sequence exchange;

determining whether the update is received by the gateway with error; and

if the update is received without error, applying the update to the security system panel without further input from the user system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting she update is performed over a network, the messaging sequence exchange including TCP/IP communications protocols.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information relating to the plurality of security system panels includes at least one of:

a security system panel dealer;

a security system panel service entity;

a security system panel local responder entity;

a security system panel account identifier; and

a security system panel version identifier.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the security system panel version identifier includes at least one of

a module type;

a firmware version; and

a hardware version.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the update is a patch file.

6. A system for remotely updating security systems, comprising:

a user system;

a host system;

a storage device storing updates for security system panels;

a network link to a gateway remote from the user system, the gateway in communication with one of the security system panels; and

a security update application executing on the host system, performing:

searching a database of panel information for at least one security system panel to update, the database storing information relating to a plurality of security system panels;

defining a messaging sequence exchange between the host system and the gateway;

receiving an update from the user system at the host system, the update comprising a software or firmware update for the one of the security system panels, and

wherein the update is stored in a database of updates and the security system panel is one of the plurality of security system panels;

identifying a version of the update by searching the database of updates; requesting the gateway for a current version of the gateway;

receiving an indication that the version of the update matches the current version of the gateway;

separating the update into a plurality of blocks in response to receiving the indication;

transmitting a first block of the plurality of blocks to the gateway for delivery via the gateway to the security panel, using the messaging sequence exchange;

determining whether the first block is received by the gateway with error;

if the first block is received by the gateway without error, transmitting a second block of the plurality of blocks from the host system to the gateway using the messaging sequence exchange; and

receiving an end session command upon an indication that each of the plurality of blocks have been received by the gateway, and applying the update to the one of the security update panels without further input from the user system.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein transmitting the first block and the second block of the plurality of blocks is performed over a network link, the messaging sequence exchange including TCP/IP communications protocols.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the information relating to a plurality of security system panels includes at least one of:

a security system panel dealer;

a security system panel service entity;

a security system panel local responder entity;

a security system panel account identifier; and

a security system panel version identifier.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the security system panel version identifier includes at least one of:

a module type;

a firmware version; and

a hardware version.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the update is a patch file.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the gateway resides in the security system panel.

12. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for remotely updating security systems, the computer program product including instructions for implementing a method, said computer program product programmed to:

search a database of panel information for at least one security system panel to update, the database storing information relating to a plurality of security system panels;

define a messaging sequence exchange between a user system, a host system, and a gateway remote from the user system, the gateway in communication with a security system panel;

receive an update from the user system at the host system, the update comprising a software or firmware update for the security system panel, and wherein the update is stored in a database of updates and the security system panel is one of the plurality of security system panels;

identify a version of the update by searching the database of updates;

request the gateway for a current version of the gateway;

receive an indication that the version of the update, matches the current version of the gateway;

separate the update into a plurality of blocks in response to receiving the indication;

transmit a first block of the plurality of blocks from the host system to the gateway for delivery via the gateway to the security panel, using the messaging sequence exchange;

determine whether the first block is received by the gateway with error;

if the first block is received by the gateway without error, transmit a second block of the plurality of blocks from the host system to the gateway using the messaging sequence exchange; and

receive an end session command upon an indication that each of the plurality of blocks have been received by the gateway, and apply the update to the security system panel without further input from the user system.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the computer program product is configured to transmit the first block and the second block of the plurality of blocks over a network, the messaging sequence exchange including TCP/IP communications protocols.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the information relating to a plurality of security system panels includes at least one of:

a security system panel dealer;

a security system panel service entity;

a security system panel local responder entity;

a security system panel account identifier; and

a security system panel version identifier.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the security system panel version identifier includes at least one of:

a module type;

a firmware version; and

a hardware version.

16. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the update is a patch file.

17. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the gateway resides within the security system panel.