A system for providing distributed control to process transactions is disclosed, including a service provider system, a point of service device, and a portable device. The service provider system, point of service (POS) device, and portable device each have a plurality of rules and a number of meta-rules. The portable device is used with the POS device to conduct a transaction. If the portable device is unable to determine the outcome for the transaction, the portable device determines whether its rules may be altered locally to determine the outcome, or request the POS device to help determine the outcome. If the POS device is unable to determine the outcome, the POS device determines whether its rules can be altered locally in order to determine the outcome, or request the service provider system to help determine the outcome using the rules and meta-rules associated with the service provider system.