Temporal graph

A graph represents selected entities and relations. A temporal graph adds the time or interval relevant to a relation and its description. Staff can distinguish an object's location during an event from its current location, a former permission from its replacement, an earlier claim from a later correction.

Examples of relations include entrusted, handled, repaired, located, mentioned, interpreted, contradicted, invited, transferred, authorized. Staff attach source, context, evidence, uncertainty, access, revision, dispute status where relevant. Some events involve several participants and objects, so the record may require a multi-party relation rather than only a pair.

An operator can query approved questions associated with a book during a period, or inspect the permission in effect when the camera was used. Software examines the relevant events and current rules during reconstruction. Staff record the effective interval of a statement. They separately record their own receipt or entry time when it differs.