Zircon has recently gained a new client, a major systems supplier to the rail industry.  They are currently upgrading communication system hardware to overcome a problem with obsolescence.  The hardware is being supplied by a third party and Zircon has been contracted to write the device driver software for this new hardware.

The comms system links a host computer with outstations via 48 serial links.  The processor that controls the system is now obsolete but the client wishes to retain as much of their existing hardware as possible.  The processor will be replaced by an Intel chip mounted on a PCI Express Bus running Windows XP Embedded and Zircon has been asked to develop a device driver to make the 48 serial ports visible to the operating system.