Transmission device with hybrid arq and methods for use therewith

A method comprising:

• generating a transmit signal conveying transmit data in accordance with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol;
• converting, via a coupler, the transmit signal to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;
• converting to a receive signal, via the coupler, received guided electromagnetic waves from a remote device that propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the remote device is configured to receive the transmitted guided electromagnetic waves;
• generating, based on the receive signal, corona discharge data that indicates a corona discharge in proximity to the transmission medium during a first time period;
• identifying, responsive to the corona discharge data, a first packet of the transmit signal that was converted to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves during the first time period;
• and
• regenerating the transmit signal to include the first packet for retransmission via the transmitted guided electromagnetic waves, without waiting for a repeat request to be received from the remote device indicating the first packet.

A device comprising:

• means for generating a transmit signal conveying transmit data in accordance with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARD) protocol;
• means for converting the transmit signal to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;
• means for converting to a receive signal, received guided electromagnetic waves from a remote device that propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the remote device is configured to receive the transmitted guided electromagnetic waves;
• means for generating, based on the receive signal, corona discharge data that indicates a corona discharge in proximity to the transmission medium during a first time period;
• means for identifying, responsive to the corona discharge data, a first packet of the transmit signal that was converted to transmitted guided electromagnetic waves during the first time period;
• and
• means for regenerating the transmit signal to include the first packet for retransmission via the transmitted guided electromagnetic waves, without waiting for a repeat request to be received from the remote device indicating the first packet.