A method, media server, and terminal device identifying a service request type. If a service request carries a Cookie with a content identification value and the content identification value of the Cookie with the content identification value is consistent with a media content value corresponding to the service request, the service request is determined as an existing service request; otherwise, the service request is determined as a newly initiated service request, so that the media server can identify which service request is an existing service request, and which service request is a newly initiated service request, and therefore can provide differentiated services for terminal devices.