Patent ID: 8774754

Claim:
A system for controlling a first computing device, the system comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the system, cause the system to at least: allocate units of value to an allowance associated with a use of a function of the first computing device, the allowance being associated with a plan managed by an administrator and shared with a second computing device, the allocation of the units of value being based on input associated with the administrator; determine a list of one or more computing devices that the first computing device is allowed to exchange data with independently of the allowance; determine a rule that determines whether to deduct units of value associated with the use of the function from the units of value allocated to the allowance or from units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance, the determination being based on whether the use of the function is associated with exchanging data with one or more computing devices from the determined list; and deduct units of value from the units of value allocated to the allowance or from units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance based on the rule when the function is executed, wherein units of value are deducted from the units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance when the function is executed to exchange data with one or more computing devices from the determined list, and wherein units of value are deducted from the units of value allocated to the allowance when the function is executed to exchange data with one or more computing devices that are not on the determined list.