ARQ protocols in cooperation between the physical and link layers for wireless communications.

Method of operating a receiver (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202) for receiving data from a transmitter (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202) via a wireless link, characterized by: a physical layer (310) which operates in the receiver (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202), receiving a physical layer frame from a transmitter (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202) via a wireless link wherein receiving the physical layer frame includes: determining whether the physical layer frame is error free; when the physical layer frame is error free, the physical layer (310) of the receiver (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202) alleges that the physical layer ( 310) transmitter (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202) the receipt of successful reception, extracts the unit data packet physical layer frame, and passes the packet unit data link layer (306) which operates in the receiver (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202); when the physical layer frame is error free, the physical layer (310) of the receiver (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202) denies the physical layer (310) the transmitter (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202) successful receipt of the physical layer frame; a link layer (306) which operates in the receiver (104, 106, 116, 118, 126, 128, 130, 136, 132, 134, 1102, 1202) receiving a unit of data packet, wherein the receiving unit data packet comprises: determining the loss of a unit of data packet by a space or discontinuity in the sequence numbers of units of data packet received by the link layer (306); and upon determining that missed a unit of data packet delay operation Automatic Retransmission reQuest unit lost packet data in the link layer (306) during a delay corresponding to the duration of operations error recovery physical layer (310), comprising the steps of error recovery physical layer (310) recovering the physical layer frame that includes said drive lost packet data.