Method and apparatus for multiple concurrent random access procedures

A user equipment (UE) comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive a first configuration for a random access (RA) procedure, and
• a processor operably coupled to the transceiver, the processor configured to initiate:
• a first RA procedure on a cell based on the first configuration, and
• a second RA procedure on the cell prior to completion of the first RA procedure.

A base station comprising:

• a transceiver configured to:
• receive a first physical random access channel (PRACH) in a first random access occasion (RO),
• receive a second PRACH in a second RO,
• transmit a first random access response (RAR) corresponding to the first PRACH, wherein the first RAR includes a first temporary cell radio network temporary identifier (TC-RNTI) and a first uplink grant,
• transmit a second RAR corresponding to the second PRACH, wherein the second RAR includes a second TC-RNTI and a second uplink grant,
• receive a first PUSCH scheduled by the first uplink grant, wherein the first PUSCH includes the first TC-RNTI, and
• receive a second PUSCH scheduled by the second uplink grant, wherein the second PUSCH includes only the first TC-RNTI or both the first and the second TC-RNTIs.