Systems and methods for activating monitoring of a security system by a central monitoring station

1. A method of activating monitoring of a security system by a central monitoring station using a cloud server, the method comprising:

receiving at the cloud server a call from the central monitoring station, the call including an input parameter identifying the security system;

using the input parameter to identify a database entry associated with the security system;

determining a status of a first communication path between a sensor of the security system and a control panel of the security system and a second communication path between the control panel and the central monitoring station as identified in the database entry;

responsive to determining that the database entry identifies the first communication path as valid and the second communication path as unverified, transmitting an instruction signal from the cloud server to the control panel directing the control panel to simulate receipt of an alarm signal from the sensor;

receiving at the cloud server a confirmation signal from the central monitoring station, the confirmation signal indicating that the second communication path is valid; and

updating the database entry to document that the second communication path is valid.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at the cloud server a request for the database entry from the control panel; and

forwarding the database entry from the cloud server to the control panel.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving the confirmation signal, transmitting a notification signal from the cloud server to the control panel indicating that the second communication path is valid and that the central monitoring station is ready to receive the alarm signal at future times.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input parameter includes information identifying the database entry, the sensor, or the control panel.

5. A method of activating monitoring of a security system by a central monitoring station using a control panel, the method comprising:

validating operation of a sensor of the security system and a first communication path between the control panel and the sensor;

generating a database entry documenting that the first communication path is valid and that a second communication path between the control panel and the central monitoring station is unverified;

responsive to the control panel receiving an instruction signal from the central monitoring station directly or via a cloud server, simulating at the control panel receipt of an alarm signal from the sensor; and

forwarding a simulated version of the alarm signal from the control panel to the central monitoring station via the second communication path to determine and document whether the second communication path is valid.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving at the control panel the alarm signal from the sensor;

responsive to receiving the alarm signal, retrieving the database entry;

when the database entry indicates that the second communication path is valid, forwarding a non-simulated version of the alarm signal from the control panel to the central monitoring station via the second communication path; and

when the database entry indicates that the second communication path is unverified, refraining from forwarding the non-simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

responsive to forwarding the simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station, receiving at the control panel a notification signal indicating that the second communication path is valid and that the central monitoring station is ready to receive the alarm signal at future times;

when the control panel receives the alarm signal from the sensor after receiving the notification signal, forwarding a non-simulated version of the alarm signal from the control panel to the central monitoring station via the second communication path; and

when the control panel receives the alarm signal from the sensor before receiving the notification signal, refraining from forwarding the non-simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving at the control panel a sensor signal indicating that the sensor is tripped; and

responsive to the control panel receiving the sensor signal, validating the operation of the sensor and the first communication path.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

saving the database entry in a database synchronized with the cloud server.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

responsive to forwarding the simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station, receiving at the control panel a confirmation signal from the central monitoring station indicating that the second communication path is valid; and

forwarding the confirmation signal from the control panel to the cloud server for updating the database entry to document that the second communication path is valid.

11. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

saving the database entry in a memory of the control panel.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving a call in the instruction signal, the call including an input parameter identifying the database entry, the sensor, or the control panel;

using the input parameter to retrieve the database entry and determine a status of the first communication path and the second communication path as identified in the database entry;

responsive to determining that the database entry identifies the first communication path as valid and the second communication path as unverified, simulating the receipt of the alarm signal from the sensor;

receiving at the control panel a confirmation signal from the central monitoring station indicating that the second communication path is valid; and

updating the database entry to document that the second communication path is valid.

13. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

simulating the receipt of the alarm signal by transmitting simulation instructions from the control panel to the sensor and, responsive thereto, receiving the alarm signal at the control panel from the sensor.

14. A control panel of a security system comprising:

a transceiver; and

a programmable processor coupled to the transceiver,

wherein the programmable processor validates operation of a sensor of the security system and a first communication path between the transceiver and the sensor,

wherein, responsive to the programmable processor validating the operation of the sensor and the first communication path, the programmable processor generates a database entry that documents that the first communication path is valid and that a second communication path between the transceiver and a central monitoring station is unverified,

wherein, responsive to the transceiver receiving an instruction signal from the central monitoring station directly or via a cloud server, the programmable processor simulates receipt of an alarm signal from the sensor, and

wherein, responsive to simulating the receipt of the alarm signal, the programmable processor forwards a simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station via the second communication path to determine and document whether the second communication path is valid.

15. The control panel of claim 14 wherein, responsive to the transceiver receiving the alarm signal from the sensor, the programmable processor retrieves the database entry, wherein, when the database entry indicates that the second communication path is valid, the programmable processor forwards a non-simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station via the second communication path, and wherein, when the database entry indicates that the second communication path is unverified, the programmable processor refrains from forwarding the non-simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station.

16. The control panel of claim 14 wherein, responsive to the programmable processor forwarding the non-simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station, the transceiver receives a notification signal indicating that the second communication path is valid and that the central monitoring station is ready to receive the alarm signal at future times, wherein, when the transceiver receives the alarm signal from the sensor after receiving the notification signal, the programmable processor forwards a non-simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station via the second communication path, and wherein, when the transceiver receives the alarm signal from the sensor before receiving the notification signal, the programmable processor refrains from forwarding the non-simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station.

17. The control panel of claim 14 wherein, responsive to generating the database entry, the programmable processor saves the database entry in a database synchronized with the cloud server, wherein, responsive to the programmable processor forwarding the simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station, the transceiver receives a confirmation signal from the central monitoring station indicating that the second communication path is valid, and wherein, responsive to the transceiver receiving the confirmation signal, the programmable processor forwards the confirmation signal to the cloud server for updating the database entry to document that the second communication path is valid.

18. The control panel of claim 14 further comprising:

a memory,

wherein, responsive to generating the database entry, the programmable processor saves the database entry in the memory.

19. The control panel of claim 18 wherein the instruction signal includes a call and an input parameter identifying the database entry, the sensor, or the control panel, wherein, the programmable processor uses the input parameter to retrieve the database entry and determine a status of the first communication path and the second communication path as identified in the database entry, wherein, responsive to determining that the database entry identifies the first communication path as valid and the second communication path as unverified, the programmable processor simulates the receipt of the alarm signal from the sensor, wherein, responsive to the programmable processor forwarding the simulated version of the alarm signal to the central monitoring station, the transceiver receives a confirmation signal from the central monitoring station indicating that the second communication path is valid, and wherein, responsive to receiving the confirmation signal, the programmable processor updates the database entry to document that the second communication path is valid.

20. The control panel of claim 14 wherein the programmable processor simulates the receipt of the alarm signal from the sensor by transmitting simulation instructions to the sensor and, responsive thereto, receiving the alarm signal from the sensor.