New to ECS 5.1 is the ability to select download options when updating Panel firmware via the ECS firmware updater.  When panel update is selected two options for download are available, Automatic and Panel Prompt.                    Automatic mode will tell the matrix to update all the panels currently connected to the matrix without any user intervention, Any offline panels will display a prompt to upgrade once they are connected back to the matrix Panel Prompt mode will tell the matrix to hold the update but not to send the update to all panels immediately. Instead it gives more control by deferring the decision to take an update to the panel user, allowing the firmware update to be taken at a more convenient time. A prompt is displayed on panels supporting this update mode, giving the user the option of accepting the download (YES) or deferring the decision until later (NO). The prompt is indicated by flashing keys. This mode is useful for upgrading panels which have been offline at the time of the download, or for testing new releases where the system administrator may only want to upgrade one panel prior to applying the update to the whole system.  The prompt is displayed when the panel goes from offline to online; once YES is chosen, a second confirmation will be displayed. If YES is again chosen download will commence immediately. If NO is selected then the prompt will no longer be displayed until either the update is downloaded to the matrix again or for non V-Series panels a BLACK reset is made to the matrix. For V-Series panels the prompt is also accessible from the panel menus, the UPGRADE menu option is only displayed in the DIAGNOSTIC menu if an update is available in the matrix.  If the versions in the panels match the newly downloaded update then they will not receive the newly downloaded update.