DISTRIBUTED NODE OPERATION IN HETEROGENEOUS NETWORKS

Systems and methods related to providing spatial reuse gain as well as Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) gains in a combined cell of a heterogeneous cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of operation of a wireless device includes receiving node-specific pilot signals from transmission nodes in a combined cell, where each node-specific pilot signal is transmitted by a different transmission node in the combined cell. The method further includes generating channel measurements based on the node-specific pilot signals. The channel measurements include a separate channel measurement for each transmission node based on the node-specific pilot signal transmitted by the transmission node. The method further includes selecting a desired combination of nodes from the subset of the transmission nodes based directly or indirectly on the channel measurements and providing an indication of the desired combination of nodes to the central control node for the combined cell.