Synchronizing method for impulse radio network

A method to synchronize an impulse radio signal in a receiver based on a cross-correlation between an input signal and a template pulse train, this method comprising:

• a. receiving a radio signal,
• b. applying a reference pulse train,
• c. splitting the radio signal according to the template pulse train contained in the reference pulse train to obtain a plurality of elementary samples,
• d. executing at least one unitary cross-correlation on at least one of the plurality of elementary samples with the reference pulse train to obtain a cross-correlation result,
• e. applying a threshold check on each cross-correlation result, wherein each cross-correlation result has the same weighting to obtain a threshold-checked cross-correlation result,
• f. summing each threshold-checked cross-correlation result to form a sum result of an output signal,
• g. storing the sum result,
• h. shifting the template pulse train by a predetermined offset,
• i. performing steps b-to-g with the shifted template pulse train to the received radio signal,
• j. determining the highest sum result over a given time period,
• wherein the threshold-checked cross-correlation result has three states, i.e. positive, zero and negative.