US Patent 7161955 Modified start frame delimiter detection

A modified approach to detecting the start frame delimiter (SFD) is disclosed. A receiving system scans a decoded but not yet de-scrambled received signal for a scrambled version of the SFD associated with the preamble format being used. Using this approach, it is not necessary to use any bits intended for use in synchronization to initialize a de-scrambler so as to be able to de-scramble the SFD portion of the preamble for detection. The bits that otherwise would have been dedicated to initializing the de-scrambler may then be used for synchronization, as intended. Detecting fewer than all bits comprising a start frame delimiter is described. Bits not used for SFD detection may be used for other purposes, such as synchronization.