A method for controlling tunnel identifier allocation, comprising sending, by a mobility management network element, MMNE, a modify bearer request message to a serving gateway, SGW, characterized in that the method further comprises: determining, by the MMNE, that the SGW is allowed to change a tunnel endpoint identifier, TEID, and/or an internet protocol, IP, address according to a type of a current procedure; and wherein the modify bearer request message is used for notifying that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address; wherein the determining, by the MMNE, that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address according to a type of the current procedure, comprises: when the MMNE is an mobility management entity, MME, the type of the current procedure is a tracking area update procedure, and a user equipment, UE, is in an idle state, determining, by the MMNE, that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address; or when the MMNE is a serving general packet radio service, GPRS, support node, SGSN, the type of the current procedure is a routing area update procedure, and a UE is in an idle state, determining, by the SGSN, that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address; and wherein the modify bearer request message carries an information element which indicates that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address. determining, by the MMNE, that the SGW is allowed to change a tunnel endpoint identifier, TEID, and/or an internet protocol, IP, address according to a type of a current procedure; and wherein the modify bearer request message is used for notifying that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address; wherein the determining, by the MMNE, that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address according to a type of the current procedure, comprises: when the MMNE is an mobility management entity, MME, the type of the current procedure is a tracking area update procedure, and a user equipment, UE, is in an idle state, determining, by the MMNE, that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address; or when the MMNE is a serving general packet radio service, GPRS, support node, SGSN, the type of the current procedure is a routing area update procedure, and a UE is in an idle state, determining, by the SGSN, that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address; and wherein the modify bearer request message carries an information element which indicates that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address. when the MMNE is an mobility management entity, MME, the type of the current procedure is a tracking area update procedure, and a user equipment, UE, is in an idle state, determining, by the MMNE, that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address; or when the MMNE is a serving general packet radio service, GPRS, support node, SGSN, the type of the current procedure is a routing area update procedure, and a UE is in an idle state, determining, by the SGSN, that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address; and wherein the modify bearer request message carries an information element which indicates that the SGW is allowed to change the TEID and/or the IP address.