In transmitting a device trigger message operation, a core network device receives a device trigger message sent by a first device, where the device trigger message includes information that indicates validity time of the device trigger message; when it is determined that a timer exists, compares the validity time with duration of the timer; if the validity time is greater than the duration of the timer, sends the device trigger message to a user equipment UE after the timer times out; and if the validity time is not greater than the duration of the timer, sends a message to the first device and/or discarding the device trigger message, where the message is used to indicate that triggering is rejected, or transmission fails, or device triggering fails.