In the GPS Vehicle Tracking world, there are two general categories of systems from which to choose, “Active” (also known as Real Time) and “Passive” .
Passive systems are typically limited to vehicle tracking only. Passive units are installed in a vehicle, and the data on the device is manually downloaded from the vehicle at the end of the day, or when the vehicle returns to the home base. Passive systems are useful for companies who do not want to view any information in real time from any computer, and who do not wish to be immediately alerted of unusual or undesired activity during the day or throughout the night. Unusual activity would vehicle actions such as excessive speed, entering or exiting defined zones and locations, prolonged idling of vehicle, no movement of vehicle by a particular time, movement of a vehicle during certain times (nights and weekends. i.e. theft of a vehicle).
Because of the limitations mentioned above, Active systems are used far more in commercial GPS fleet management, and vehicle tracking (automated vehicle location) solutions.
