| AIS | Automatic Identification System |
| AIS approvals | Nationally set minimum requirements for relevant AIS products |
| AIS base station | An onshore AIS unit that monitors traffic in the waterways |
| AIS command centre | An AIS system that monitors AIS base stations along a coastline |
| AIS messages | AIS data is sent in messages to other devices via the AIS slot map |
| AIS Slot Map | Time slots of 26.6 milliseconds that AIS devices transmit data into |
| Antenna Splitter | A unit that manages how the VHF antenna is used by the radio and AIS device |
| AtoN | Aid to Navigation, AIS on a buoy out to sea |
| CCNR (Central Commission for Navigation of the Rhine) | Organisation that regulates AIS devices on inland waterways in Europe |
| CE (Conformité Européenne, European Conformity) | Organisation that regulates all non SOLAS vessel AIS products in Europe |
| Class A | A transceiver unit designed for SOLAS vessels that fall under the IMO mandate |
| Class B | A transceiver unit that offers AIS functionality to all non SOLAS vessels |
| Carrier Sense Time-Division Multiple-Access (CSTDMA) | A system used by Class B based units to transmit data |
| Fixed Access Time-Division Multiple-Access (FATDMA) | A system used by AtoNs to transmit data |
| FCC (Federal Communications Commission) | Organisation that regulates radio devices in America |
| Glonass | A Russian based positioning system that AIS uses to calculate where the vessel is |
| GPS | Positioning system that AIS uses to calculate where the vessel is |
| Incremental Time-Division Multiple-Access (ITDMA) | A system used by AIS devices to transmit data |
| IC (Industry Canada) | Organisation that regulates radio devices in Canada |
| IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) | Organisation that sets the AIS test standards for the IMO |
| IMO | the International Maritime Organisation, the governing body of international maritime transportation |
| Man overboard | A small device that monitors crew who are working on a vessel |
| Mandate | A law that specifies AIS for certain vessels. Both national and international laws are referred to as mandates |
| Pre-Announced Time-Division Multiple-Access (PATDMA) | A system used by SARTs to transmit data |
| Random Access Time-Division Multiple-Access (RATDMA) | A system used by AtoNs to transmit data |
| Receive | Receive data from other AIS devices via the AIS slot map |
| Receiver | A unit that only receives data |
| SART | Search and Rescue Transponder, alerts ships in range that there is a lifeboat needing assistance |
| SOLAS | Safety of Life at Sea regulations created by the IMO |
| Self Organised Time-Division Mulitple-Access (SOTDMA) | A system used by Class A units to transmit data |
| Transport Canada | Organisation that regulates AIS devices in Canada |
| Transceiver | A unit that both transmits and receives data |
| Transmit | Sending data to other ships, shore based stations and AtoNs via the AIS slot map |
| United States Coast Guard | Organisation that regulates AIS devices in America |
| VDL | The VHF Data Link the technical term for the AIS slot map |
| VHF radio | The technology that AIS uses to transmit data to the AIS slot map |
| Wheelmark | Approval award from the European Union for all SOLAS vessel AIS units |