Patent ID: 7634505

Claim:
A method of creating a test database instance from a database instance, the method comprising: receiving a request to create a test database instance for a first database instance on a source system, the request received from a requestor at a first organization and the request identifying a portion of the first database instance that the requestor at the first organization is permitted to access; processing the request by copying the portion of the first database instance to a target system so as to form the test database instance on the target system, the copy process proceeding substantially contemporaneous with, and substantially without interference with, processing at least one other request to access other portion(s) of the first database instance received from other requestor(s) at other organization(s); directing subsequent requests from requestor(s) at the first organization to the test database instance instead of the first database instance, thereby enabling testing; receiving a second request from the requestor at the first organization to create a second test database instance for the first database instance; processing the second request while continuing to allow access to the first test database instance by copying the portion of the first database instance that the requestor at the first organization is permitted to access to the target system so as to form a second test database instance on the target system; and thereafter directing subsequent requests from requestor(s) at the first organization to the second test database instance in place of the first test database instance.