  SOXS (Son Of X-Shooter) is a new spectrograph for the ESO NTT telescope,
currently in the final design phase.
  The main instrument goal is to allow the characterization of transient
sources based on alerts. It will cover from near-infrared to visible bands with
a spectral resolution of $R \sim 4500$ using two separate, wavelength-optimized
spectrographs. A visible camera, primarily intended for target acquisition and
secondary guiding, will also provide a scientific "light" imaging mode.
  In this paper we present the current status of the design of the SOXS
instrument control software, which is in charge of controlling all instrument
functions and detectors, coordinating the execution of exposures, and
implementing all observation, calibration and maintenance procedures.
  Given the extensive experience of the SOXS consortium in the development of
instruments for the VLT, we decided to base the design of the Control System on
the same standards, both for hardware and software control.
  We illustrate the control network, the instrument functions and detectors to
be controlled, the overall design of SOXS Instrument Software (INS) and its
main components. Then, we provide details about the control software for the
most SOXS-specific features: control of the COTS-based imaging camera, the
flexures compensation system and secondary guiding.
