Glossary
This glossary covers 3 types of expressions used on this website:
- Acronyms e.g. AVL
- Technical Terms and Phrases e.g. telematics
- Non-alphabetic expressions (#)
Entries are organized alphabetically except for non-alphabetic expressions that appear at the top of the list of entries.
1xRTT Nortel Implementation of packet data (protocol) on CDMA.
3G A 3rd-generation broadband network service as a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System).
API Application Programming Interface.
ASIAL Australian Security Industry Association Limited.
ASX Australian Stock Exchange.
AUD International symbol for Australia Dollars.
Authentication A security measure that attempts to ensure that only authorized persons have access to a system. E.g. Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), Challenge Authentication Protocol (CHAP).
Bluetooth Class II device for up to 4dBm transmit, typically 10m range (approx. 33ft). It is used for high-speed, low-power, short-range wireless communication between Bluetooth devices.
Browser A software system (or program), with a GUI for users, that enables the user to access the internet (or WWW). The information exchange protocol used on the internet is HTTP.
CAD Computer Aided Dispatch.
CAPEX Capital Expenditure.
CDMA Code Division Multiple Access, a wireless communications protocol.
CE MARK European Standard for product release into Europe.
CH Channel.
CMF Central Monitoring Facility.
CSC Customer Service Center.
CSD Circuit switched data.
Data transmission When the modem is connected to the network, the main Watcher window shows the amount of data received and sent.
DLC Data Link Controller.
EDA Enterprise Digital Assistant.
EDGE Enhanced Data rates for global ( or GSM) evolution. A global voice and data wireless network services.
EFTPOS Electronic Funds Transfer Point Of Sale.
FDDI The Fiber Distributed Interface. This is a network topology for fiber-optic cable that enables data delivery and fault tolerance.
FDM Frequency-division multiplexing.
Geofence A Geofence is a set of defined lat/long coordinates that can be programmed into our MCG devices (in a mobile) e.g. polygon, square, circle, free-form etc that can be applied around a site, depot, house, target, highway, even a state or city etc. The box is constantly sampling the GPS signal from the satellite every second and referencing that sample position to the programmed geofence(s) and to the set of rules that it has onboard i.e. am I in or out of that geofence? a range of responses can occur based on this. One example is a no go zone, thus if a mobile goes into a no-go zone the box notes this and sends a notification back to MZone. The device will actually records the entry and exit times of that event.
GGSN GPRS Gateway Service Node (IP input into Carrier Network).
GPRS General Packet Radio Services. A global voice and data wireless network services.
GPS Global Positioning System.
GSM Global System for Mobiles.
GSM Global system for mobile communication. A global voice and data wireless network services.
GUI Graphical User Interface.
HF High Frequency.
HSDPA High-Speed Downlink Packet Access.
HSPA Concurrent HSDPA and HSUPA.
HSUPA High-Speed Uplink Packet Access.
HTTP The Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol used on the internet (or WWW) that enables computer systems and networks to communicate with each other and users via their browsers.
I/F Interface.
ID Identification.
IP 1. Intellectual Property. 2. Internet Protocol.
IRIDIUM Iridium Satellite is a premium service; it is the only provider of a truly global satellite voice and data solution with complete coverage of the earth (including oceans, airways and Polar Regions). Iridium delivers essential communications services to and from remote areas where no other form of communication is available. The Iridium constellation consists of 66 low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites and has multiple in-orbit spares. The constellation operates as a fully meshed network and is the largest commercial satellite constellation in the world. The Iridium service is ideally suited for industries such as maritime, aviation, government/military, emergency/humanitarian and distress, urgency and safety services, mining, forestry, utilities, oil and gas, heavy equipment, transportation and off road vehicles.
ISO International Standards Organization (for Quality Assurance).
ISP Internet Service Provider.
Java Virtual Machine (JVM) A software system, created by Sun Microsystems, that operates behind the scene as a virtual machine. Java programs run on the JVM which in turn runs on the operating system of the computer. Java programs don't have to be compiled for the current hardware-software platform (i.e. computer and its operating system e.g. Windows on PC, MAC OS on Apple computer, Unix on Sun etc) and can therefore run on any platform where there is a JVM.
Kernel The core functionality of an operating system. For example, due to the proven robustness of Unix kernels e.g. the Mach kernel, a unix or unix-like kernel is now core of operating systems such as MAC OS and Windows.
LBS Location Based Services.
MAP27 Trunk Mobile Radio Proprietary Communications Protocol.
MD Managing Director.
MDT Mobile Data Terminal (Refers to Transcom’s MD3000 MDT Product).
MF/HF Medium Frequency / High Frequency (pertaining to radio communications).
MMS Multimedia Message Service.
MZone Transcom’s web based GPS tracking and telematics platform (under license).
NAVSTAR USA Military Global Positioning Satellite System (~10 meter accuracy).
NI-CAD Nickel Cadmium.
No go zone See geofence.
NSAA National Security Association of Australia.
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer
Operating environment One or more environmental conditions for the proper operation of a device. E.g. temperature range, relative humidity range, altitude range.
OS Operating system. The software system (or program-like system) that provides functionality to applications (short for application programs) as services that run in the background. Users access the operating system on their computer, and consequently applications, via some interface program (or shell) associated with the operating system.
PC/PPC Personal Computer/Pocket Personal Computer.
PDA Personal Digital Assistant.
PDT Personal Data Terminal.
Phone indicators. An operational mode to indicate an in-bound call or message. E.g. vibration. audible sound, visual display.
PIN Personal Identity number.
PMR Private Maintained Radio (conventional common channel point to point radio).
POD Proof Of Delivery.
Port A hardware-based or software-based location for I/O data operation in a system. An entry/exit point for a data stream that may or may not include a memory buffer or cache to temporarily hold shared data.
PS2 Lab code for Transcom’s SECUREwatch Personal Securer Series II device.
PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
QA Quality Assurance.
QWERTY Standard keyboard layout.
RAND Radio Area Network Data (Transcom proprietary on-air radio communications protocol).
RAS Remote Access Server.
RF Radio Frequency.
RFID Radio Frequency Identification.
Ring-tone file format File format for ring-tone sounds. E.g. MIDI Type 0, WMA, WAV.
Roaming .A user is connected to a network other than your local service provider's. There may be a surcharge for roaming service. This service may not be available.
RV Recreation Vehicle
SBD Short Burst Data method used in the Iridium satellite system by Gilat.
Signal strength and service status The number of bars beside the antenna increases as signal strength increases, to a maximum of five bars. The ToolTip that displays when you position the mouse pointer over this indicator shows the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) in dBm.
SIM Subscriber Identity Module.
SIRF Proprietary Company name of GPS Receiver Engine Manufacturer.
SLA Service Level Agreement.
Smart phone A device that integrates the functionality of a phone and a PDA or PC.
SMS Short Message Service (over GSM network).
TCP/IP Transmission Communications Protocol / Internet Protocol.
TMR Trunk Mobile Radio.
TTY If your modem is voice-enabled, this indicator is displayed if TTY support is enabled. (TTY or TeleTYpe devices allow speech and hearing impaired people to use a phone). Depending on your modem configuration, you may not have this indicator.
USA United States Of America
USB Universal serial bus.
VIP Very Important Person.
VTS Vehicle Tracking System.
WAP Wireless Application Protocol.
WIP Work In Progress.
WWW The World Wide Web, an alternative name for the internet.
X Windows A GUI developed for use with the various versions of Unix.
ZIP Zone Information Protocol.
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