From 0cb0d7c8cbee817900c39475a6d285ede93999fa Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Dvorak <john@johnsdvorak.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2026 10:58:49 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] js-rigor: the partial graph carries the temporal context
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The partial graph is the caller's self-contained view of the world — so
the time belongs in it. partialGraph.now becomes the evaluation clock for
that check (TTL gates, proof expiry, decay all honor it), with an
explicit options.now taking precedence. The explain rerun replays the
SAME partial graph object and reproduces the original decision; the
serializer records request.temporal.now for the record.

Pins: partialGraph.now driving a challenge decision both sides of the
window, the explicit-override precedence, and the explain rerun with the
same object.
---
 src/core/PartialGraphContext.js     |  7 +++++++
 src/core/arbiter/ArbiterChecks.js   |  6 ++++++
 tests/rigor/validity-parity.test.js | 22 ++++++++++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 35 insertions(+)

diff --git a/src/core/PartialGraphContext.js b/src/core/PartialGraphContext.js
index 5e45a1a..7644336 100644
--- a/src/core/PartialGraphContext.js
+++ b/src/core/PartialGraphContext.js
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@ import { validateReducerConfig, getAllowedRelationsForLayer } from './partial-gr
 export class PartialGraphContext {
   constructor(arbiter, partialGraph) {
     this.arbiter = arbiter;
+    // The caller's view of the world at a moment in time: the partial graph
+    // may carry that time. When present it becomes the evaluation clock for
+    // this check, so a rerun that replays the same partial graph reproduces
+    // the same decision (TTL gates, proof expiry, decay all honor it).
+    this.now = (partialGraph && partialGraph.now !== undefined && partialGraph.now !== null)
+      ? partialGraph.now
+      : null;
     const policy = arbiter?.partialGraphPolicy || null;
     this.nodeIdByKey = new Map();
     this.keyByNodeId = new Map();
diff --git a/src/core/arbiter/ArbiterChecks.js b/src/core/arbiter/ArbiterChecks.js
index ce99f3a..42789fd 100644
--- a/src/core/arbiter/ArbiterChecks.js
+++ b/src/core/arbiter/ArbiterChecks.js
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ export class ArbiterChecks {
         throw new Error(`Partial graph exceeds max nodes: ${nodes.length} > ${maxNodes}`);
       }
       options.partialGraphContext = this.arbiter._createPartialGraphContext(options.partialGraph);
+      if (options.now === undefined && options.partialGraphContext.now !== null) {
+        options.now = options.partialGraphContext.now;
+      }
     }
 
     const { returnHints = false, _visited = new Set(), _currentRelation = null, binary = false, epsilon, delta, clientStateId } = options;
@@ -115,6 +118,9 @@ export class ArbiterChecks {
 
     if (options.partialGraph && !options.partialGraphContext) {
       options.partialGraphContext = this.arbiter._createPartialGraphContext(options.partialGraph);
+      if (options.now === undefined && options.partialGraphContext.now !== null) {
+        options.now = options.partialGraphContext.now;
+      }
     }
 
     const explainOptions = {
diff --git a/tests/rigor/validity-parity.test.js b/tests/rigor/validity-parity.test.js
index 8019129..394bd9b 100644
--- a/tests/rigor/validity-parity.test.js
+++ b/tests/rigor/validity-parity.test.js
@@ -289,3 +289,25 @@ describe('Temporal replay (re-entrant diagnostics) (rigor)', () => {
     assert.deepEqual(e.request.temporal, { now: issued + 301000 }, 'challenge temporal recorded');
   });
 });
+
+describe('Partial graph carries the temporal context (rigor)', () => {
+  it('FIXED: partialGraph.now drives the decision, and the rerun replays the same object', () => {
+    const a = new Arbiter();
+    a.addNode('u:0', 'user');
+    a.addNode('d:0', 'doc');
+    a.setRelationConfig('can_download', { type: 'challenge', challenge: 'mfa', subject: 'user', withinMinutes: 5 });
+    const issued = 500000;
+    // One self-contained request object: evidence + the caller's time.
+    const pg = { challenges: [{ name: 'mfa', subject: 'u:0', issuedAt: issued, expiresAt: null }], now: issued + 299000 };
+    assert.equal(a.check('u:0', 'can_download', 'd:0', { partialGraph: pg }).possibility, 1, 'within window via partialGraph.now');
+    pg.now = issued + 301000;
+    assert.equal(a.check('u:0', 'can_download', 'd:0', { partialGraph: pg }).possibility, 0, 'past window via partialGraph.now');
+    // an explicit options.now overrides the partial graph's time
+    assert.equal(a.check('u:0', 'can_download', 'd:0', { partialGraph: pg, now: issued + 299000 }).possibility, 1, 'explicit now overrides');
+    // the rerun replays the same object and reproduces the decision
+    pg.now = issued + 299000;
+    const e = a.explain('u:0', 'can_download', 'd:0', { partialGraph: pg });
+    assert.equal(e.decision.possibility, 1, 'explain rerun with the same partial graph reproduces');
+    assert.deepEqual(e.request.temporal, { now: issued + 299000 }, 'temporal recorded from the partial graph');
+  });
+});