The first time period in this embodiment of this application may be DRX active time of the terminal device, for example, the active time shown in FIG. 3. Start moments and duration of active time of different terminal devices may be different, that is, first time periods in which different terminal devices monitor a data channel may be different. That is, the base station may send the first DCI and the second DCI out of the DRX active time (out of active time) (or out of the first time period), and the terminal device simultaneously monitors the first DCI and the second DCI out of the DRX active time (out of active time) (or out of the first time period).