Pilot signal resource allocation for a cellular MIMO system

A cellular multiple-input and multiple-output, MIMO, system for allocating resources for a transmission of pilot signals of a plurality of terminals, the system comprising:

• a first base station;
• and
• a second base station;
• wherein each of the first and second base stations includes a plurality of antennas and a logic, which analyzes pilot signals received from a terminal of the plurality of terminals at the plurality of antennas to obtain information about radio channel properties between the terminal and the plurality of antennas,
• wherein the logic of the first base station is further configured to:
• determine a first resource used for a transmission of pilot signals of a first terminal to obtain information about properties of a first radio channel between the first terminal and the plurality of antennas of the first base station, wherein the first resource is comprised in a time slot within a data transmission frame,
• determine a usage type indicating a usage of the first resource, wherein the usage type that is determined is one of (1) the first resource is used for transmitting pilot signals of a single first terminal device, and (2) the first resource is used for transmitting pilot signals of a cluster of first terminal devices, and
• transmit the usage type and information about the first resource to the second base station,
• wherein the logic of the second base station is configured to:
• allocate, based on receiving the usage type and the information about the first resource, a second resource for a transmission of pilot signals of a second terminal to obtain information about properties of a second radio channel between the second terminal and the plurality of antennas of the second base station.

A cellular multiple-input and multiple-output, MIMO, system for allocating resources for a transmission of pilot signals of a plurality of terminals, the system comprising:

• a first base station;
• and
• a second base station;
• wherein each of the first and second base stations includes a plurality of antennas and a logic, which analyzes pilot signals received from a terminal of the plurality of terminals at the plurality of antennas to obtain information about radio channel properties between the terminal and the plurality of antennas,
• wherein the logic of the first base station is further configured to:
• transmit a usage type and information about a first resource to the second base station, wherein the first resource is comprised in a time slot within a data transmission frame, and
• wherein the logic of the second base station is configured to:
• receive the usage type, wherein the usage type is one of (1) the first resource is used for transmitting pilot signals of a first terminal to obtain information about properties of a first radio channel between the first terminal and the plurality of antennas of the first base station, and (2) the first resource is used for transmitting pilot signals of a cluster of first terminal devices, and
• allocate, based on receiving the usage type and the information about the first resource, a second resource for a transmission of pilot signals of a second terminal to obtain information about properties of a second radio channel between the second terminal and the plurality of antennas of the second base station.