Sounding reference signal grouping and validity

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• transmit a request to a user equipment to perform a sounding reference signal sweep;
• receive, from the user equipment, a sounding reference signal sweep result comprising an identification of a plurality of sounding reference signals identified during the sounding reference signal sweep;
• receive an indication of one or more groups comprising one or more sounding reference signals among the plurality of sounding reference signals, or form the one or more groups comprising the one or more sounding reference signals among the plurality of sounding reference signals, wherein the one or more sounding reference signals or the one or more groups are ordered in a hierarchical rank structure based on predefined criteria where the one or more sounding reference signals or the one or more groups respectively have a corresponding ranking;
• and
• transmit another indication to the user equipment, or receive the another indication from the user equipment, wherein the another indication identifies which of the one or more sounding reference signals or which of the one or more groups is invalid.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, from a network element, a request to perform a sounding reference signal sweep;
• performing the sounding reference signal sweep of a plurality of sounding reference signals;
• creating one or more groups comprising one or more sounding reference signals among the plurality of sounding reference signals, or receiving an indication of the one or more groups comprising the one or more sounding reference signals among the plurality of sounding reference signals, wherein the plurality of sounding reference signals are identified during the sounding reference signal sweep, wherein the one or more sounding reference signals or the one or more of the groups are ordered in a hierarchical rank structure based on predefined criteria where the one or more sounding reference signals or the one or more groups respectively have a corresponding ranking;
• and
• transmitting another indication to the network element, or receiving the another indication from the network element, wherein the another indication identifies which of the one or more sounding reference signals or which of the one or more groups is invalid.