APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR MULIT-ANTENNA CHANNEL QUALITY DATA ACQUISITION IN A BROADCAST/MULTICAST SERVICE NETWORK USING A MULTICAST SYMBOL

摘要

Various methods and apparatuses provide unicast channel data acquisition, such as antenna information, from Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) subframes. A method of operating a wireless communications network infrastructure entity is disclosed comprising defining a Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe (400) comprising a unicast symbol (401) in a predetermined first symbol position within said subframe (400), said unicast symbol (401) comprising at least a first unicast antenna reference symbol; defining a second symbol position (403) within said subframe (400) for containing at least a second unicast antenna reference symbol; and transmitting said subframe (400) wherein said unicast symbol (401) comprises said at least first unicast antenna reference symbol and wherein said multicast symbol (403) comprises said at least second unicast antenna reference symbol.