In one embodiment, a method of programming an implantable medical device (IMD) to provide therapeutic operations for a patient, comprises: receiving first programming data by the IMD from the external programming device to provide therapeutic operations according to at least one instance of settings data during a first communication session； receiving second programming data by the IMD from the external programming device to define limitations of reprogramming during one or more subsequent offline programming sessions； conducting a second communication session between the IMD with an external programming device when network connectivity is not available； receiving third programming data by IMD from the external programming device to provide therapeutic operations according to at least one instance of settings data during the second communication session； and determining whether the third programming data is permitted according to limitations defined by the second programming data.
