Transparent intelligent network for data and voice

Claim 1

An integrated terrestrial/satellite communications network having a plurality of peripheral star-connected and central communications nodes, a first plurality of terrestrial communications links connecting said central nodes directly, a second plurality of terrestrial communications links individually connecting said peripheral nodes to said central nodes, a satellite, means establishing communications links via said satellite directly between each of said central nodes, means for inputting data-representing network at one node and outputting said signals from said network through another node, means at said one node for selecting certain signals to be transmitted within the network by terrestrial communications links and other signals to be transmitted within the network by satellite links, means at said another node for checking said other signals for errors and in response to an error in one or more of said signals transmitted via said satellite to transmit back to said one node via terrestrial communications links exclusively an error indicating signal, and means at said one node effective upon receipt of said error indicating signals for retransmitting by terrestrial links exclusively said one or more of said signals.