<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-06</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0001052303</issuerCik>        <issuerName>TERAYON COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>TERN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>1185067</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>LUSTENADER CAROL W</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText>Former Officer</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7132</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>2.5</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares were acquired under Terayon employees stock purchase plan</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/S/Rachel Halpren for Carol Lustenader</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

