Method and apparatus for handling random access failures in RRC inactive state

A User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory storing a set of computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the LIE to:
• initiate a random access (RA)-based small data transmission (SDT) procedure while the UE is in a radio resource control (RRC) inactive state;
• start a timer while the UE is in the RRC inactive state after initiating the RA-based SDT procedure;
• initiate an RA procedure;
• determine whether an RA problem associated with the RA procedure has occurred while the timer is running;
• and
• in response to determining that the RA problem associated with the RA procedure has occurred while the timer is running, transition from the RRC inactive state to an RRC idle state.