Method and an apparatus for synchronizing received binary signals

Claim 1

In an apparatus for synchronizing received binary reception signals whose bit duration is an integral multiple n of the duration of an original bit, wherein the original bit is already synchronized and has a duration which is equal to the bit duration of that received signal which has been transmitted at the highest available transmission rate of other possible transmission rates, each other possible transmission rate being said highest transmission rate divided by a selectable integral divisor, and wherein each original bit, having a serial number and an address, has a reception quality factor which is stored in time succession in respect of the individual original bits in a common quality factor memory, in combination: means operative for forming the quality factor differences of successive original bits, means operable for adding the quality factor differences of those original bits which have the same serial number within a received bit, means for determining the maximum of the summed quality factor difference of n successive original bits, and means for continuously adapting the addresses of the original bits in such a way that the address of the original bit having the maximum summed quality factor difference is assigned a given, constant and predetermined value so that said original bit will be used as the first original bit of a received bit, for synchronization whereby the received signal is automatically synchronized also at any one of said other possible transmission rates.