Optionally, in an embodiment, all fields of M overhead code blocks in overhead code blocks transmitted over each physical connection are used for the management channel, and M is a positive integer.
Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is used to transmit the content of the timeslot configuration table and/or the content of the configuration table of the physical connection group by using an Ethernet packet, and synchronization headers of the M overhead code blocks are used for synchronization of the Ethernet packet.
Optionally, in an embodiment, some fields of the overhead code block transmitted over each physical connection are used for the management channel.
Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a management channel of each physical connection, different physical connections in the physical connection group correspond to different management channels, and content of a timeslot configuration table used by any physical connection in the physical connection group and/or the content of the configuration table of the physical connection group are/is transmitted by using a management channel corresponding to the any physical connection.
Optionally, in an embodiment, the management channel is a management channel of the physical connection group, the multiple physical connections in the physical connection group share the management channel of the physical connection group, and content of the timeslot configuration tables used by the multiple physical connections and/or the content of the configuration table of the physical connection group are/is transmitted by using the management channel of the physical connection group.