Specifically, enough identifiers of the timeslot configuration table may be pre-configured, so as to distinguish between timeslot configuration tables of all physical connections in the physical connection group. That a length of an identifier of a physical connection in the physical connection group is 8 bits is used as an example. One physical connection group may include a maximum of 256 physical connections. It is assumed that n labels, such as oxoo, 0xFF, and the like, are used as reserved labels and used for other purposes. In this case, the physical connection group may include a maximum of 256-n physical connections. Timeslot configuration tables used by the physical connections in the physical connection group may be the same, or may be different. For same timeslot configuration tables, a same timeslot configuration table identifier may be used. In general, in an extreme case, 256-n identifiers for timeslot configuration tables that are being used may be needed to identify the 256-n timeslot configuration tables that are being used. That is, one timeslot configuration table is used by each physical connection. In this case, no timeslot configuration table identifier is available for a new timeslot configuration table. Therefore, some reserved identifiers are further needed. For example, an identifier=0x00 or 0xFF or both of the timeslot configuration table are used as reserved identifiers. If no other timeslot configuration table is available, and a timeslot configuration table needs to be updated, an identifier of the timeslot configuration table of the physical connection may be temporarily switched to a reserved identifier before a process for negotiating the update of the timeslot configuration table begins, and is switched back to an identifier, other than the reserved identifier, of a normal timeslot configuration table after the update is complete. Alternatively, identifiers=0-255 of the timeslot configuration tables are treated equally. Therefore, in any case, the 256-n physical connections cannot use all of the 256 identifiers of the timeslot configuration tables. That is, at least one of the identifiers of the timeslot configuration tables is available. After a new table is used by a physical connection, an original table may be abolished, and an identifier of the timeslot configuration table of the physical connection may be retrieved for use. Further, there is a simpler manner. That is, a manner of extending a field length of Slot Configuration Table ID to, for example, 9 bits may be used. 9 bits can be used to distinguish between 512 tables. Certainly, alternatively, the identifier of the timeslot configuration table used by the physical connection may not be changed, and only content of the timeslot configuration table used by the physical connection group is updated. This is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present invention.