System and Method for Synchronized Key Derivation across Multiple Conditional Access Servers

A method for synchronized key derivation and distribution across multiple conditional access servers to provide playback devices with derived keys for decrypting content, the method comprising:

• receiving by a conditional access server a request for a first derived key, where the request includes:
• a first asset identifier that identifies a piece of content;
• and
• a first playback position within the piece of content associated with the first asset identifier;
• determining using the conditional access server a first content key starting position and a first derived key starting position within the piece of content using the first playback position, where the first content key starting position and first derived key starting position precede the first playback position;
• determining using the conditional access server whether a first content key associated with the first asset identifier and first content key starting position is stored in memory;
• retrieving by the conditional access server the first content key from memory using the first asset identifier and the first content key starting position when the first content key is stored in memory;
• generating by the conditional access server a first derived key using at least the first content key and the first derived key starting position;
• and
• sending by the conditional access server the first derived key in response to the request for a first derived key.