Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, includes: receiving corresponding information from a communications device, where the corresponding information indicates a correspondence between at least one sending resource and at least one coverage level; receiving at least one segment of control information sent by using the at least one sending resource; parsing the at least one segment of control information to obtain content included in the at least one segment of control information; and setting, according to the corresponding information if content included in one segment of control information in the at least one segment of control information includes information indicating an identity of the user terminal, a coverage level of the user terminal to a first coverage level that is in the at least one coverage level and that is corresponding to a sending resource by using which the one segment of control information is sent.