Method and system for operating a security system that has a cellular communication connection with a data usage cap

A method for operating a security panel of a security system, wherein the security panel is in communication with an off-site central monitoring station (CMS) and/or a cloud-based server over a cellular communication connection that has a predefined cellular data usage cap over a predefined period of time, the method comprising:

• the security panel determining an amount of cellular communication data usage over the cellular communication connection since the beginning of the predefined period of time;
• the security panel determining a remaining amount of cellular communication data for the remainder of the predefined period of time based at least in part on the amount of cellular communication data usage over the cellular communication connection since the beginning of the predefined period of time and the predefined cellular data usage cap for the predefined period of time;
• the security panel determining whether a projected amount of cellular communication data usage is expected to exceed the predefined cellular data usage cap at or before the end of the predefined period of time based at least in part on the remaining amount of cellular communication data and how much time remains before the end of the predefined period of time;
• and
• in response to determining that the projected amount of cellular communication data usage is expected to exceed the predefined cellular data usage cap at or before the end of the predefined period of time, the security panel changing one or more operations of the security panel to reduce the amount of cellular communication data usage.

A non-transient computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors of a security system, cause the one or more processors to:

• determine an amount of cellular communication data usage over a cellular communication connection between a security panel and one or more off-site central monitoring stations (CMS) and/or a cloud-based server since the beginning of a predefined period of time, wherein the cellular communication connection has a predefined cellular data usage cap over the predefined period of time;
• determine a remaining amount of cellular communication data for the remainder of the predefined period of time based at least in part on the amount of cellular communication data usage over the cellular communication connection since the beginning of the predefined period of time and the predefined cellular data usage cap for the predefined period of time;
• determine whether a projected amount of cellular communication data usage is expected to exceed the predefined cellular data usage cap at or before the end of the predefined period of time based at least in part on the remaining amount of cellular communication data and how much time remains before the end of the predefined period of time;
• and
• in response to determining that the projected amount of cellular communication data usage is expected to exceed the predefined cellular data usage cap at or before the end of the predefined period of time, automatically change or recommend a change to one or more operations of the security system to reduce the amount of cellular communication data usage by the security system.