A user plane resource management method, comprising: receiving , by a user plane network element in a core network, a data transmission channel establishment request message from a control plane network element in the core network, wherein the data transmission channel establishment request message requests the user plane network element to establish a data transmission channel, wherein the user plane network element is adapted to perform user plane functions of a node, the control plane network element is adapted to perform control plane functions of the node, wherein the node is a serving gateway or a packet data network gateway; establishing , by the user plane network element, the data transmission channel based on current user plane resource status information and assigning a channel identifier marking the data transmission channel; and sending , by the user plane network element, the channel identifier to the control plane network element, wherein before the receiving , by the user plane network element, the data transmission channel establishment request message from the control plane network element, the method further comprises: sending , by the user plane network element, a capability indication to the control plane network element, wherein the capability indication indicates that the user plane network element supports a channel management capability, wherein the channel management capability comprises at least one of or a combination of a plurality of the following: a channel identifier assignment capability, channel detection, and channel status reporting. receiving , by a user plane network element in a core network, a data transmission channel establishment request message from a control plane network element in the core network, wherein the data transmission channel establishment request message requests the user plane network element to establish a data transmission channel, wherein the user plane network element is adapted to perform user plane functions of a node, the control plane network element is adapted to perform control plane functions of the node, wherein the node is a serving gateway or a packet data network gateway; establishing , by the user plane network element, the data transmission channel based on current user plane resource status information and assigning a channel identifier marking the data transmission channel; and sending , by the user plane network element, the channel identifier to the control plane network element, wherein before the receiving , by the user plane network element, the data transmission channel establishment request message from the control plane network element, the method further comprises: sending , by the user plane network element, a capability indication to the control plane network element, wherein the capability indication indicates that the user plane network element supports a channel management capability, wherein the channel management capability comprises at least one of or a combination of a plurality of the following: a channel identifier assignment capability, channel detection, and channel status reporting. sending , by the user plane network element, a capability indication to the control plane network element, wherein the capability indication indicates that the user plane network element supports a channel management capability, wherein the channel management capability comprises at least one of or a combination of a plurality of the following: a channel identifier assignment capability, channel detection, and channel status reporting. <EOS>