Patent ID: 8364792

Claim:
A system for distributing restricted media to consumers, the system comprising: a primary device configured to manage personal settings for an account associated with a user, wherein the personalized settings dictate a graphic user interface from which the user accesses various media services; and a service server controlled by a service provider providing media services, wherein the media services, upon notification that the primary device is no longer working and needs to be replaced, include performing operations of: looking up an account associated with the user; configuring a new device in accordance with personalized settings retained in the account, wherein the personalized settings include at least definitions of a look and feel of the graphic user interface, a list of viewed titles by the user, and the user's personalized library; loading titles in the personalized library into the new device; making a determination (i) that the user has ordered a restricted media title that is available for distribution on the open network only during a restricted period of time, and (ii) that the new device would not be received by the user until after the restricted period of time has ended; and upon determining that the user has ordered the restricted media title that is available for distribution on the open network only during a restricted period of time and that the new device would not be received by the user until after the restricted period of time has ended, loading the restricted media title into the new device without using an open network.