A method includes determining a type of a first subframe, where the type of the first subframe is a first-type subframe, a second-type subframe, a third-type subframe, or a fourth-type subframe, where the second-type subframe includes an uplink control channel and a downlink channel, the uplink control channel is located after the downlink channel, and there is a guard period between the uplink control channel and the downlink channel. The fourth-type subframe includes an uplink channel and a downlink control channel, the uplink channel is located after the downlink control channel, and there is a guard period between the uplink channel and the downlink control channel. The method also includes transmitting data in the first subframe according to the type of the first subframe.