Time tracking for a communication system

A receiver for characterizing a communication channel, the receiver comprising:

• means for moving a detection window through a channel profile to accumulate tap energies in the channel profile within the detection window into an accumulated energy curve,
• means for determining a peak at a maximum in the accumulated energy curve,
• means for defining a band relative to the accumulated energy curve, wherein the band defines a zone of the accumulated energy curve at or near the maximum that is within the band,
• means for detecting a FAP using a trailing edge found near a second end of the zone in the accumulated energy curve,
• means for detecting a leading edge found near a first end of the zone of the accumulated energy curve, and
• means for determining a LAP using the leading edge.

A communication device for characterizing a communication channel, the communication device comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• move a detection window through the channel profile to accumulate tap energies in the channel profile within the detection window into an accumulated energy curve,
• determining a peak at a maximum in the accumulated energy curve,
• defining a band relative to the accumulated energy curve, wherein the band defines a zone of the accumulated energy curve at or near the maximum that is within the band,
• detecting a FAP using a trailing edge found near a second end of the zone in the accumulated energy curve,
• detecting a leading edge found near a first end of the zone of the accumulated energy curve, and
• determining a LAP using the leading edge;
• and
• a memory coupled with the processor.