Method and Apparatus for Pilot Configuration in a Mobile Communications Network

A method of operating a central scheduler node in a mobile communications network when one or more mobile devices are located in the coverage area of a first base station and a second base station, the first base station and the second base station having a shared cell identity, the method comprising:

• determining the number of mobile devices that may benefit from a distributed multiple-input/multiple output (D-MIMO) mode in which data is transmitted to a mobile device by the first base station and the second base station;
• and
• if the number of mobile devices that may benefit from a D-MIMO mode exceeds a threshold, causing said mobile devices, the first base station and the second base station to be configured to operate in the D-MIMO mode.

A central scheduler node for use in a mobile communications network in which one or more mobile devices can be located in the coverage area of a first base station and a second base station, the first base station and the second base station having a shared cell identity, the node comprising:

• a processing circuit configured to determine the number of mobile devices that may benefit from a distributed multiple-input/multiple output (D-MIMO) mode in which data is transmitted to a mobile device by the first base station and the second base station, and, in response to determining that the number of mobile devices that may benefit from a D-MIMO mode exceeds a threshold, cause said mobile devices, the first base station and the second base station to be configured to operate in the D-MIMO mode.

A method of operating a network node in a mobile communications network when one or more mobile devices are located in the coverage area of a first base station and a second base station, the first base station and the second base station having a shared cell identity, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication from a central scheduler of one or more mobile devices that are to be configured to operate in a distributed-multiple input/multiple output (D-MIMO) mode in which data is transmitted to the mobile device by the first base station and the second base station;
• and
• sending a signal to each of the one or more mobile devices to cause the mobile devices to be configured to operate in the D-MIMO mode.

A network node for use in a mobile communications network in which one or more mobile devices can be located in the coverage area of a first base station and a second base station, the first base station and the second base station having a shared cell identity, the network node comprising:

• a processing circuit configured to receive an indication from a central scheduler of one or more mobile devices that are to be configured to operate in a distributed-multiple input/multiple output (D-MIMO) mode in which data is transmitted to the mobile device by the first base station and the second base station, and to send a signal to each of the one or more mobile devices to cause the mobile devices to be configured to operate in the D-MIMO mode.

A method of operating a base station in a mobile communications network when one or more mobile devices are located in the coverage area of the base station and another base station, the base station and said other base station having a shared cell identity, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication from a central scheduler that the base station is to operate in a distributed-multiple input/multiple output (D-MIMO) mode in which data is transmitted to a mobile device by the base station and said other base station;
• and
• transmitting a secondary control channel signal to the mobile device.

A base station for use in a mobile communications network in which one or more mobile devices can be located in the coverage area of the base station and another base station, the base station and said other base station having a shared cell identity, the base station comprising:

• a processing circuit configured to receive an indication from a central scheduler that the base station is to operate in a distributed-multiple input/multiple output (D-MIMO) mode in which data is transmitted to a mobile device by the base station and said other base station, and to transmit a secondary control channel signal to the mobile device.