A component carrier grouping method performed by a network device, the method comprising: • receiving information about a first capability that is reported by a terminal, wherein the information about the first capability is used to notify the network device that the terminal supports carrying of control information corresponding to a first component carrier on a second component carrier, wherein the information about the first capability is further used to indicate a difference between a component carrier configuration parameter of the first component carrier and a component carrier configuration parameter of the second component carrier that are supported by the terminal; • grouping a plurality of component carriers configured for the terminal into at least one component carrier group of a first type (step 400), so that the network device sends control information corresponding to the first component carrier to the terminal over the second component carrier, wherein the first component carrier and the second component carrier belong to a same component carrier group, among the at least one component carrier group, of the first type, wherein the grouping the plurality of component carriers configured for the terminal into at least one component carrier group of the first type comprises: ∘ grouping, based on the information about the first capability, the plurality of component carriers configured for the terminal into the at least one component carrier group of the first type, thereby arriving at a grouping result; and • sending first grouping configuration information to the terminal, wherein the first grouping configuration information is used to indicate the grouping result of the at least one component carrier group of the first type (step 410); • sending the control information corresponding to the first component carrier to the terminal over the second component carrier. • receiving information about a first capability that is reported by a terminal, wherein the information about the first capability is used to notify the network device that the terminal supports carrying of control information corresponding to a first component carrier on a second component carrier, wherein the information about the first capability is further used to indicate a difference between a component carrier configuration parameter of the first component carrier and a component carrier configuration parameter of the second component carrier that are supported by the terminal; • grouping a plurality of component carriers configured for the terminal into at least one component carrier group of a first type (step 400), so that the network device sends control information corresponding to the first component carrier to the terminal over the second component carrier, wherein the first component carrier and the second component carrier belong to a same component carrier group, among the at least one component carrier group, of the first type, wherein the grouping the plurality of component carriers configured for the terminal into at least one component carrier group of the first type comprises: ∘ grouping, based on the information about the first capability, the plurality of component carriers configured for the terminal into the at least one component carrier group of the first type, thereby arriving at a grouping result; and • sending first grouping configuration information to the terminal, wherein the first grouping configuration information is used to indicate the grouping result of the at least one component carrier group of the first type (step 410); • sending the control information corresponding to the first component carrier to the terminal over the second component carrier.