Digital Surfacing Processor

The DSP (Digital Surfacing Processor) runs similar to the Job Tracker or Remote Processors in Rx-Universe, as a basically unattended process which sends and receives information from the various digital surfacing calculation engines.

The number of seconds that the DSP pauses between each loop of checking all "in" folders defaults to 5 seconds, but can be changed on the screen. A log file is maintained on the DS device setup record (as with other devices), which shows the communication that takes place between Rx-Universe and the digital calculator in question.

Firstly, the DSP monitors the OMFREEPR file, which contains orders that need to be sent to the different calculations engines. For each order listed, the DSP gets the digital type for that lens style, and checks for a "DS" device record for that type. It creates a flat file, in VCA format, in the "out" location specified for that digital type, using any special processing associated with the "DS" record.

Secondly, the DSP monitors all "in" folders for all digital types. When a file with an "LMS" extension is found (in any of those folders), it is processed by the DSP, which involves saving the information from the incoming file in the device record for the correct job, including the LDPATH of the design file (the back surface topography file to be generated). Usually, the results from the calculation engine also require recalculation of the SET and ACTUAL value on the job. When viewing the device data on a job, it's easy to tell if the data has been updated by the DSP by whether or not the LDPATH setting, at the top of the screen, has been set, as in the following example:

For digital jobs, there is a button called “View Digital Files” which will be active (it is not active for non-digital jobs). Clicking this button will show the contents of the BRS, BAS, LDS and LMS files for this job (these files are taken from the ARCHIVE subfolders, therefore the ARCHIVE subfolders must exist under the incoming and outgoing folders for the various DS interfaces).

In addition to the “View Digital Files”, the lab can also “View PROC records”, which show device-specific data sent from the digital calculator. This data shows VCA data which Rx-Universe doesn’t use – any such labels are stored, with their values, and will be “passed-through” to any devices which request it. Also shown (as in the example below), are the device-specific values, where different values can be stored for a label, and sent to the appropriate device when requested. In the example below, LDPATH has different values for different models of generator:

The lab can set up an icon to automatically start the DS processor by using “ff” as the auto command for the workstation (usually we use “DS” as the workstation number, but that is not mandatory). Whatever station number is used, the workstation setup screen can be set up with “ff” as the auto command.