<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-28</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0001052303</issuerCik><issuerName>TERAYON COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>TERN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001140407</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>TAYLOR ARTHUR T</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP, CFO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>125000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>2.45</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-28</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>125000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>125000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Option granted under the 1997 Option Plan on 05/28/2003, with 50% vesting on 05/28/2004 and 50% vesting on 05/28/2005</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Arthur T. Taylor</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

