A method for switching a state of a User Equipment, UE, characterized in that , the method comprises: receiving (S101), by the UE in a connected state, a configuration strategy transmitted by a base station, wherein the configuration strategy is a judgment rule for the base station to allow the UE to enter an inactive state; wherein the inactive state is a state in which the UE remains connected with a core network, but the UE does not perform any conventional operations in an air-interface connected state and is not allocated with any UE identifier to be directly used for air-interface transmission; and entering (S102), by the UE, the inactive state from the connected state according to the configuration strategy, when determining a condition for entering the inactive state is met; wherein the configuration strategy comprises an intra-area unique identifier allocated to the UE in the inactive state, which is applicable in some areas to identify the UE in the inactive state; and the intra-area unique identifier is used for a network side to search for the UE, or for the UE to enter the connected state through identity recognition while initiating an uplink access on its own initiative; wherein the intra-area unique identifier of the UE in the inactive state is different from an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, IMSI, and a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier, C-RNTI; wherein after the UE enters the inactive state from the connected state according to the configuration strategy, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the UE, a data transmission request to the base station, wherein the data transmission request carries the intra-area unique identifier of the UE in the inactive state; and transmitting, by the UE, data with the base station in the inactive state according to a UE context stored in the inactive state of the UE. receiving (S101), by the UE in a connected state, a configuration strategy transmitted by a base station, wherein the configuration strategy is a judgment rule for the base station to allow the UE to enter an inactive state; wherein the inactive state is a state in which the UE remains connected with a core network, but the UE does not perform any conventional operations in an air-interface connected state and is not allocated with any UE identifier to be directly used for air-interface transmission; and entering (S102), by the UE, the inactive state from the connected state according to the configuration strategy, when determining a condition for entering the inactive state is met; wherein the configuration strategy comprises an intra-area unique identifier allocated to the UE in the inactive state, which is applicable in some areas to identify the UE in the inactive state; and the intra-area unique identifier is used for a network side to search for the UE, or for the UE to enter the connected state through identity recognition while initiating an uplink access on its own initiative; wherein the intra-area unique identifier of the UE in the inactive state is different from an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, IMSI, and a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identifier, C-RNTI; wherein after the UE enters the inactive state from the connected state according to the configuration strategy, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the UE, a data transmission request to the base station, wherein the data transmission request carries the intra-area unique identifier of the UE in the inactive state; and transmitting, by the UE, data with the base station in the inactive state according to a UE context stored in the inactive state of the UE. transmitting, by the UE, a data transmission request to the base station, wherein the data transmission request carries the intra-area unique identifier of the UE in the inactive state; and transmitting, by the UE, data with the base station in the inactive state according to a UE context stored in the inactive state of the UE. <EOS>