Can I propose some connection decomposition and manipulation semantics? Try these: Definition: A Service Termination/Transit Point "STP" identifies a location in the topology. STPs primarily denote a lowest level component of the topology where a service instance may begin, end, or transit. An STP may also identify a higher level topological construct where a service instance may begin, end, or transit. In the case of a higher level construct, the service instance may touch any sub-component to meet the termination or transit constraint. Definition: Given STPs A and Z, "A>Z" denotes a unidirectional Path beginning at A and ending at Z; Rule 1: Equivalence: Given two STPs J and K, If J==K ("J is topologically equivalent to K"), then K==J, and both identify the same location (object) in the topology. Rule 2: Concatenation: Given STPs A,M,N,,Z, a Connection C1:=(A>M), and a Connection C2:=(N>Z), then C1:C2 == (A>M):(N>Z) == (A>M>N>Z) "C1 concatenated with C2 is equivalent to ..." Implications: - If Connection A>M exists, and a Connection M>Z exists, Then by concatenation a Connection A>M>Z exists, and by implication A>Z exists. - Given J==K, then A>J == A>K; and (J>K)==J==K; - Given STPs A, M, N, and Z, If M==N, then (A>M):(N>Z) == A>M>N>Z == A>M>Z ==A>N>Z; Thoughts? Jerry