Impulse noise detection from preamble symbols

1. A method for detecting impulse noise in a preamble sequence, the method comprising:

receiving the preamble sequence that includes a plurality of preamble symbols;

dividing the plurality of preamble symbols by at least one known preamble symbol to produce a plurality of preamble gains corresponding to tho plurality of preamble symbols; and

determining based upon the plurality of preamble gains, that at least one preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise by;

from the plurality of preamble gains, determining a gain differential sequence that includes a plurality of gain differential values; and

for each gain differential value that exceeds a gain differential threshold, determining that a corresponding preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

dividing the plurality of preamble symbols by at least one known preamble symbol further produces a plurality of preamble phases corresponding to the plurality of preamble symbols; and

the method further comprises determining, based upon the plurality of preamble phases, that at least one preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining, based upon the plurality of preamble phases, that at least one preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise comprises:

from the plurality of preamble phases, determining a phase differential sequence that includes a plurality of phase differential values; and

for each phase differential value tat exceeds a phase differential threshold, determining tat a corresponding preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising discarding at least one preamble symbol that has been adversely affected by impulse noise from the plurality of preamble symbols.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising combining non-discarded preamble symbols of the plurality of preamble symbols of the preamble sequence to produce a composite result.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising applying at least one correction factor to the non-discarded preamble symbols of the plurality of preamble symbols of the preamble sequence to produce the composite result.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preamble sequence is received via a wired communication link.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preamble sequence is received via a wireless communication link.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preamble sequence is received and processed by a cable modem communication system receiver.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the preamble sequence is received end processed by a Cable Modem Termination System.

11. A method for detecting impulse noise in a preamble sequence, the method comprising:

receiving the preamble sequence that includes a plurality of preamble symbols;

dividing the plurality of preamble symbols by at least one known preamble symbol to produce a plurality of preamble phases corresponding to the plurality of preamble symbols; and

determining, based upon the plurality of preamble phases, that at least one preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse by;

from the plurality of preamble phases, determining a phase differential sequence that includes a plurality of phase differential values; and

for each phase differential value that exceeds a phase differential threshold, determining that a corresponding preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising discarding at least one preamble symbol that has been adversely affected by impulse noise from the plurality of preamble symbols.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising combining non-discarded preamble symbols of the plurality of preamble symbols of the preamble sequence to produce a composite result.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising applying at least one correction factor to the non-discarded preamble symbols of the plurality of preamble symbols of the preamble sequence to produce the composite result.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the preamble sequence is received via a wired communication link.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the preamble sequence is received via a wireless communication link.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the preamble sequence is received and processed by a cable modem communication system receiver.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the preamble sequence is received and processed by a Cable Modem Termination System.

19. A communication device comprising:

a communication device front end that receives an incoming analog signal and that processes the incoming analog signal to produce a preamble sequence;

a communication receiver operably coupled to the communication device front end that performs a plurality of operations to detect impulse noise in the preamble sequence, wherein the communication receiver;

receives the preamble sequence that includes a plurality of preamble symbols;

divides the plurality of preamble symbols by at least one known preamble symbol to produce a plurality of preamble gains corresponding to the plurality of preamble symbols; and

determines, based upon the plurality of preamble gains, that at least one preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise by:

determining a gain differential sequence from the plurality of preamble gains that includes a plurality of rain differential values; and

for each gain differential value that exceeds a gain differential threshold, determine that a corresponding preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise.

20. The communication device of claim 19 , wherein the communication receiver further discards at least one preamble symbol that has been adversely affected by impulse noise from the plurality of preamble symbols.

21. The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the communication receiver further combines non-discarded preamble symbols of the plurality of preamble symbols of the preamble sequence to produce a composite result.

22. The communication device of claim 21 , wherein the communication receiver further applies at least one correction factor to the non-discarded preamble symbols of the plurality of preamble symbols of the preamble sequence to produce the composite result.

23. The communication device of claim 19 , wherein the communication device front end services a wired communication link.

24. The communication device of claim 19 , wherein the communication device front end services a wireless communication link.

25. The communication device of claim 19 , wherein the communication device front end services a cable modem communication system receiver.

26. The communication device of claim 25 , wherein the communication device is a Cable Modem Termination System.

27. A communication device comprising:

a communication device front end that receives an incoming analog signal and that processes the incoming analog signal to produce a preamble sequence;

a communication receiver operably coupled to the communication device front end that performs a plurality of operations to detect impulse noise in the preamble sequence, wherein the communication receiver:

receives the preamble sequence that includes a plurality of preamble symbols;

divides the plurality of preamble symbols by at least one known preamble symbol to produce a plurality of preamble phases corresponding to the plurality of preamble symbols; and

determines, based upon the plurality of preamble phases, that at least one preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise by:

determining a phase differential sequence from the plurality of preamble phases that includes a plurality of phase differential values; and

for each phase differential value that exceeds a gain differential threshold, determining that a corresponding preamble symbol has been adversely affected by impulse noise.

28. The communication device of claim 27 , wherein the communication receiver further discards at least one preamble symbol that has been adversely affected by impulse noise from the plurality of preamble symbols.

29. The communication device of claim 28 , wherein the communication receiver further combines non-discarded preamble symbols of the plurality of preamble symbols of the preamble sequence to produce a composite result.

30. The communication device of claim 29 , wherein the communication receiver further applies at least one correction factor to the non-discarded preamble symbols of the plurality of preamble symbols of the preamble sequence to produce the composite result.

31. The communication device of claim 27 , wherein the communication device front end services a wired communication link.

32. The communication device of claim 27 , wherein the communication device front end services a wireless communication link.

33. The communication device of claim 27 , wherein the communication device front end services a cable modem communication system receiver.

34. The communication device of claim 33 , wherein the communication device is a Cable Modem Termination System.