Abstract
This publication discloses methods and systems for verifying prior-condition satisfaction in decision record systems through record reachability rather than independently writable status indicators. In one embodiment, prior-condition satisfaction is determined exclusively by evaluating whether a reachable sealed decision record exists in a decision record graph, with a structural prohibition of assertion-based satisfaction — meaning no mechanism exists within the system’s structurally bounded operation set to transition a prior condition from unsatisfied to satisfied without a corresponding sealed decision record. In one embodiment, a compliance matrix reporting completeness status across a population of operational scope positions is derived from the topology of the decision record graph using a three-state classification: current (a reachable sealed decision record exists under a present or compatible constraint context), outdated (a reachable sealed decision record exists but under a superseded and incompatible constraint context reflecting stale compliance data), or absent (no reachable sealed decision record exists). This topology-derived classification structurally eliminates the invisible fourth state — “indicated but unverified” — that arises in systems based on independently writable status indicators. In one embodiment, structured exception records produced through the same governed pipeline preserve the structural prohibition while providing a governed deviation pathway. In one embodiment, constraint context currency verification detects when sealed decision records have become outdated due to constraint context changes rather than elapsed time. In one embodiment, prior- condition dependencies may form chains such that blocking propagates transitively. The disclosed methods apply to GRC platforms, DAG-based pipeline orchestration systems, event sourcing architectures, and relationship-based authorization systems where compliance matrices require verifiable proof of task completion. The specific graph implementation, reachability algorithm, scope relationship evaluation mechanism, and completeness reporting format are not prescribed.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Winchester, Jayson, "Graph-Reachability-Based Prerequisite Verification in Compliance Systems — Record-Existence Derivation", Technical Disclosure Commons, (February 19, 2026)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/9363