  The structure of a thermodynamically consistent master equation for a driven
system is obtained by imposing a set of thermodynamic postulates. The analysis
is based on a time-independent autonomous construction, incorporating the drive
as a large transient control quantum system. Under these assumptions, by
partitioning the control and primary system we derive the semi-classical
description. In this framework, the drive is incorporated as a time-dependent
term in the primary system Hamiltonian. The resulting structure of the master
equation is determined by a set of eigenoperators of the driven free dynamics.
We demonstrate the theory by analyzing a qubit controlled by a single bosonic
mode in a coherent state.
