Automated operator-equipment pairing system and method

1. An apparatus for automatically pairing one or more operators with one or more pieces of equipment where each of the one or more operators carries an identification unit having an identification code stored therein, and wherein each piece of equipment comprises an equipment data sensor configured to wirelessly receive the identification code in any identification units within a particular range, the apparatus comprising:

an input device for receiving a plurality of different identification codes in data received from a particular equipment data sensor, wherein for each of the different identification codes the data comprises signal information about strength or frequency of the one or more wireless signals through which each identification code was received by the particular equipment data sensor; and

a processing device communicably coupled to the input device and configured to determine an operator of the equipment associated with the particular equipment data sensor based at least in part on a comparison of the signal information associated with each identification code,

wherein, in response to receiving at least two identification codes in association with data received from the particular equipment data sensor, the processing device is configured to determine the operator of equipment associated with the particular equipment data sensor based at least in part on comparing a frequency of association of each respective identification code with instances of data received at the particular equipment data sensor;

wherein the processor is configured to determine an operator associated with the particular equipment data sensor based on an iterative comparison of a plurality of different characteristics associated with data having an association with multiple identification codes, and the different characteristics include ranking by number of synchronized hits, average synchronized hits received signal strength indicators, average search received signal strength indicators, and number of search sessions won.

2. A method for automatically pairing one or more operators with one or more pieces of equipment where each of the one or more operators carries an identification unit having an identification code stored therein, and wherein each piece of equipment comprises an equipment data sensor configured to wirelessly receive the identification code in any identification units within a particular range, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of different identification codes in data received from a particular equipment data sensor, wherein for each of the different identification codes the data comprises signal information about strength or frequency of the one or more wireless signals through which each identification code was received by the particular equipment data sensor; and

determining an operator of the equipment associated with the particular equipment data sensor based at least in part on a comparison of the signal information associated with each identification code, wherein determining the operator comprises, in response to receiving at least two identification codes in association with data received from the particular equipment data sensor, determining the operator of equipment associated with the particular equipment data sensor based at least in part on comparing a frequency of association of each respective identification code with instances of data received at the particular equipment data sensor;

wherein determining the operator comprises determining an operator associated with the particular equipment data sensor based on an iterative comparison of a plurality of different characteristics associated with data having an association with multiple identification codes, and the different characteristics include ranking by number of synchronized hits, average synchronized hits received signal strength indicators, average search received signal strength indicators, and number of search sessions won.