DE69132383T2 - Verfahren zum Abfragen von Stromzählern - Google Patents

Verfahren zum Abfragen von Stromzählern

Info

Publication number
DE69132383T2
DE69132383T2 DE69132383T DE69132383T DE69132383T2 DE 69132383 T2 DE69132383 T2 DE 69132383T2 DE 69132383 T DE69132383 T DE 69132383T DE 69132383 T DE69132383 T DE 69132383T DE 69132383 T2 DE69132383 T2 DE 69132383T2
Authority
DE
Germany
Prior art keywords
transmissions
substation
electricity meters
operating
collection systems
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
DE69132383T
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
DE69132383D1 (de
Inventor
Lyn Mervyn Roberts
David Edward Cooper
Kelvin Eric Stock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens Metering Ltd
Original Assignee
Siemens Metering Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB909012457A external-priority patent/GB9012457D0/en
Priority claimed from GB919102199A external-priority patent/GB9102199D0/en
Application filed by Siemens Metering Ltd filed Critical Siemens Metering Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of DE69132383D1 publication Critical patent/DE69132383D1/de
Publication of DE69132383T2 publication Critical patent/DE69132383T2/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B3/00—Line transmission systems
    • H04B3/54—Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
    • H04B3/544—Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J13/00—Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
    • H02J13/00006—Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
    • H02J13/00007—Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment using the power network as support for the transmission
    • H02J13/00009—Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment using the power network as support for the transmission using pulsed signals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J13/00—Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
    • H02J13/00006—Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
    • H02J13/00028—Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment involving the use of Internet protocols
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J13/00—Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
    • H02J13/00032—Systems characterised by the controlled or operated power network elements or equipment, the power network elements or equipment not otherwise provided for
    • H02J13/00034—Systems characterised by the controlled or operated power network elements or equipment, the power network elements or equipment not otherwise provided for the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B3/00—Line transmission systems
    • H04B3/54—Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
    • H04B3/542—Systems for transmission via power distribution lines the information being in digital form
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L27/00—Modulated-carrier systems
    • H04L27/18—Phase-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using phase-shift keying
    • H04L27/20—Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
    • H04L27/2003—Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits for continuous phase modulation
    • H04L27/2021—Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits for continuous phase modulation in which the phase change per symbol period is not constrained
    • H04L27/2025—Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits for continuous phase modulation in which the phase change per symbol period is not constrained in which the phase changes in a piecewise linear manner within each symbol period
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/02—Channels characterised by the type of signal
    • H04L5/06—Channels characterised by the type of signal the signals being represented by different frequencies
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/14—Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
    • H04L5/1469—Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex using time-sharing
    • H04L5/1476—Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex using time-sharing operating bitwise
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to line transmission systems
    • H04B2203/54—Aspects of powerline communications not already covered by H04B3/54 and its subgroups
    • H04B2203/5404—Methods of transmitting or receiving signals via power distribution lines
    • H04B2203/5416—Methods of transmitting or receiving signals via power distribution lines by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to line transmission systems
    • H04B2203/54—Aspects of powerline communications not already covered by H04B3/54 and its subgroups
    • H04B2203/5404—Methods of transmitting or receiving signals via power distribution lines
    • H04B2203/5425—Methods of transmitting or receiving signals via power distribution lines improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to line transmission systems
    • H04B2203/54—Aspects of powerline communications not already covered by H04B3/54 and its subgroups
    • H04B2203/5429—Applications for powerline communications
    • H04B2203/5433—Remote metering
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to line transmission systems
    • H04B2203/54—Aspects of powerline communications not already covered by H04B3/54 and its subgroups
    • H04B2203/5462—Systems for power line communications
    • H04B2203/5483—Systems for power line communications using coupling circuits
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to line transmission systems
    • H04B2203/54—Aspects of powerline communications not already covered by H04B3/54 and its subgroups
    • H04B2203/5462—Systems for power line communications
    • H04B2203/5491—Systems for power line communications using filtering and bypassing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to line transmission systems
    • H04B2203/54—Aspects of powerline communications not already covered by H04B3/54 and its subgroups
    • H04B2203/5462—Systems for power line communications
    • H04B2203/5495—Systems for power line communications having measurements and testing channel
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02B90/20—Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y04—INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
    • Y04S—SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
    • Y04S10/00—Systems supporting electrical power generation, transmission or distribution
    • Y04S10/16—Electric power substations
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y04—INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
    • Y04S—SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
    • Y04S40/00—Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
    • Y04S40/12—Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment
    • Y04S40/121—Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment using the power network as support for the transmission

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
  • Cable Transmission Systems, Equalization Of Radio And Reduction Of Echo (AREA)
  • Digital Transmission Methods That Use Modulated Carrier Waves (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
  • Control Of Motors That Do Not Use Commutators (AREA)
  • Crushing And Pulverization Processes (AREA)
  • Gyroscopes (AREA)
  • Stabilization Of Oscillater, Synchronisation, Frequency Synthesizers (AREA)
  • Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
  • Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
  • Crystals, And After-Treatments Of Crystals (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
  • Dc Digital Transmission (AREA)
DE69132383T 1990-06-05 1991-06-05 Verfahren zum Abfragen von Stromzählern Expired - Fee Related DE69132383T2 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909012457A GB9012457D0 (en) 1990-06-05 1990-06-05 Method and apparatus for signalling
GB919102199A GB9102199D0 (en) 1991-02-01 1991-02-01 Method and apparatus for signalling

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
DE69132383D1 DE69132383D1 (de) 2000-09-28
DE69132383T2 true DE69132383T2 (de) 2001-02-01

Family

ID=26297163

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
DE69132383T Expired - Fee Related DE69132383T2 (de) 1990-06-05 1991-06-05 Verfahren zum Abfragen von Stromzählern

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (3) EP0560071B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH06504888A (de)
AT (1) ATE195836T1 (de)
AU (2) AU656526B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2084403A1 (de)
DE (1) DE69132383T2 (de)
DK (1) DK0560071T3 (de)
ES (1) ES2150922T3 (de)
GR (1) GR3034881T3 (de)
WO (1) WO1991019360A2 (de)

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2696605B1 (fr) * 1992-10-02 1994-12-30 Suisse Electronique Microtech Modulateur de signaux binaires par déplacement de fréquence.
DE4418296A1 (de) * 1994-05-26 1995-11-30 Abb Patent Gmbh Netzankopplung für Einrichtungen zur Datenübertragung über ein elektrisches Verteilnetz
FR2721457B1 (fr) * 1994-06-20 1996-07-19 Schlumberger Ind Sa Appareil pour compenser l'atténuation des signaux de télécommande centralisée sur un réseau électrique.
DE59509098D1 (de) * 1994-12-08 2001-04-19 Siemens Ag Vorrichtung zur störsicheren modulation und demodulation von analogen signalen zur nachrichtenübertragung über die schirmungen von energieübertragungskabeln
US5778027A (en) * 1995-11-24 1998-07-07 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson Method and apparatus for determining signal components using digital signal processing
US6259747B1 (en) * 1997-03-20 2001-07-10 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) IQ modulator, and associated method
US6154488A (en) * 1997-09-23 2000-11-28 Hunt Technologies, Inc. Low frequency bilateral communication over distributed power lines
US6539411B1 (en) * 1998-10-29 2003-03-25 Lucent Technologies Inc. Direct digital synthesizer
US6442381B1 (en) 1998-10-30 2002-08-27 Echelon Corporation Method and apparatus for defining and generating local oscillator signals for down converter
US6944148B1 (en) 1999-09-10 2005-09-13 Pulse-Link, Inc. Apparatus and method for managing variable-sized data slots within a time division multiple access frame
US7023833B1 (en) 1999-09-10 2006-04-04 Pulse-Link, Inc. Baseband wireless network for isochronous communication
AT408595B (de) * 2000-02-18 2002-01-25 Ericsson Ahead Comm Systems Gm Datenübertragungssystem
US6952456B1 (en) * 2000-06-21 2005-10-04 Pulse-Link, Inc. Ultra wide band transmitter
US7035246B2 (en) 2001-03-13 2006-04-25 Pulse-Link, Inc. Maintaining a global time reference among a group of networked devices
EP1973285A1 (de) 2007-03-23 2008-09-24 Nokia Siemens Networks Gmbh & Co. Kg Verfahren und Empfangsgerät zum Dekodieren von digitalen Informationen
CN106935022A (zh) * 2017-03-21 2017-07-07 广西盛洲电力科技有限公司 一种电力宽带载波通信抄表系统

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3710373A (en) * 1969-05-14 1973-01-09 Matsushita Communication Ind Signal discriminating system
JPS5321963B2 (de) * 1973-11-12 1978-07-06
JPS53121511A (en) * 1977-03-31 1978-10-24 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Transmitting/receving system
US4514840A (en) * 1982-12-29 1985-04-30 Te Ka De Felten & Guilleaume Fernmeldeanlagen Gmbh Data transmission systems for full duplex communication
US4748641A (en) * 1985-07-03 1988-05-31 Cincinnati Electronics Corporation Suppressed carrier modulation method
US4815106A (en) * 1986-04-16 1989-03-21 Adaptive Networks, Inc. Power line communication apparatus
US4766414A (en) * 1986-06-17 1988-08-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Power line communication interference preventing circuit
US4885563A (en) * 1988-05-03 1989-12-05 Thermo King Corporation Power line carrier communication system
FR2636796B1 (fr) * 1988-09-20 1990-11-02 Telecommunications Sa Modulation a sauts de phase lineaires et a enveloppe constante

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GR3034881T3 (en) 2001-02-28
ATE195836T1 (de) 2000-09-15
DK0560071T3 (da) 2000-10-09
EP0560071A3 (en) 1993-10-13
EP0817399A3 (de) 1998-10-07
JPH06504888A (ja) 1994-06-02
WO1991019360A2 (en) 1991-12-12
EP0532648A1 (de) 1993-03-24
EP0560071A2 (de) 1993-09-15
WO1991019360A3 (en) 1992-04-30
EP0560071B1 (de) 2000-08-23
AU7913194A (en) 1995-02-09
AU7951191A (en) 1991-12-31
AU656526B2 (en) 1995-02-09
ES2150922T3 (es) 2000-12-16
DE69132383D1 (de) 2000-09-28
CA2084403A1 (en) 1991-12-06
EP0817399A2 (de) 1998-01-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE69132383T2 (de) Verfahren zum Abfragen von Stromzählern
US4804938A (en) Distribution energy management system
WO2002039599A3 (en) Data communication over power lines
US4652855A (en) Portable remote meter reading apparatus
Van Der Gracht et al. Communication using pseudonoise modulation on electric power distribution circuits
MY132023A (en) Factory network having a plurality of factories and method of coordinating same
Di Fazio et al. Integration of renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and electrical vehicles with smart power distribution networks
FR2586873B1 (fr) Pont pour transformateur dans un reseau de communication par signal porteur utilisant un systeme de distribution d'energie electrique.
MX9804280A (es) Sistema de contabilidad de utilizacion de almacenamiento de datos.
MY130821A (en) Systems and methods for converting a stream of complex numbers into a modulated radio power signal
FI970805A0 (fi) Tietoliikennesignaalien kytkentä tasapainotettuun tehon jakeluverkkoon
CN101273542A (zh) 多模无线通信装置以及无线通信方法
EP0178804A3 (de) Fernlesung von Zählern
ES2117084T3 (es) Red de comunicaciones con capacidad de interrogacion.
CA2076211A1 (en) Energy monitoring system for a plurality of local stations with snapshot polling from a central station
ES2076089A2 (es) "sistema de red de imagenes de datos en tiempo real"
Jadhav et al. Energy management system in smart grid using internet of things
Hunt et al. Using ultra narrow bandwidth to overcome traditional problems with distribution line carrier
GB9621739D0 (en) Communication system and apparatus for remote reading of utility meters and power demand management of power systems
CN108110896A (zh) 电力监测系统、方法、终端、及计算机可读存储介质
Ostertag et al. High data rate, medium voltage powerline communications for hybrid DA/DSM
CN107086594A (zh) 应对突发性电力系统失衡快速负荷平衡系统及方法
JPH0122782B2 (de)
ES8608175A1 (es) Sistema distribuido para la medida de contadores de energia.
EA200100599A1 (ru) Схема для подачи сигнала связи в систему распределения электроэнергии

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
8364 No opposition during term of opposition
8339 Ceased/non-payment of the annual fee