The complexity of graph isomorphism (GraphIso) is a famous problem in computer science. For graphs G and H, it asks whether they are the same up to a relabeling of vertices. In 1981, Lubiw proved that list restricted graph isomorphism (ListIso) is NP-complete: for each \(u \in V(G)\), we are given a list \({\mathfrak L}(u) \subseteq V(H)\) of possible images of u. After 35 years, we revive the study of this problem and consider which results for GraphIso can be modified to solve ListIso.We prove: 1) Under certain conditions, GI-completeness of a class of graphs implies NP-completeness of ListIso. 2) Several combinatorial algorithms for GraphIso can be modified to solve ListIso: for trees, planar graphs, interval graphs, circle graphs, permutation graphs, and bounded treewidth graphs. 3) ListIso is NP-complete for cubic colored graphs with sizes of color classes bounded by 8.

In 1969, Roberts introduced proper and unit interval graphs and proved that these classes are equal. Natural generalizations of unit interval graphs called k-length interval graphs were considered in which the number of different lengths of intervals is limited by k. Even after decades of research, no insight into their structure is known and the complexity of recognition is open even for $$k=2$$ . We propose generalizations of proper interval graphs called k-nested interval graphs in which there are no chains of $$k+1$$ intervals nested in each other. It is easy to see that k-nested interval graphs are a superclass of k-length interval graphs. We give a linear-time recognition algorithm for k-nested interval graphs. This algorithm adds a missing piece to Gajarský et al. [FOCS 2015] to show that testing FO properties on interval graphs is FPT with respect to the nesting k and the length of the formula, while the problem is W[2]-hard when parameterized just by the length of the formula. We show that a generalization of recognition called partial representation extension is NP-hard for k-length interval graphs, even when $$k=2$$ , while Klavík et al. show that it is polynomial-time solvable for k-nested interval graphs.

Interval graphs are intersection graphs of closed intervals and circle graphs are intersection graphs of chords of a circle. We study automorphism groups of these graphs. We show that interval graphs have the same automorphism groups as trees, and circle graphs have the same as pseudoforests, which are graphs with at most one cycle in every connected component. Our technique determines automorphism groups for classes with a strong structure of all geometric representations, and it can be applied to other graph classes. Our results imply polynomial-time algorithms for computing automorphism groups in term of group products.

Interval graphs are intersection graphs of closed intervals. A generalization of recognition called partial representation extension was introduced recently. The input gives an interval graph with a partial representation specifying some pre-drawn intervals. We ask whether the remaining intervals can be added to create an extending representation. Two linear-time algorithms are known for solving this problem. In this paper, we characterize the minimal obstructions which make partial representations non-extendible. This generalizes Lekkerkerker and Boland's characterization of the minimal forbidden induced subgraphs of interval graphs. Each minimal obstruction consists of a forbidden induced subgraph together with at most four pre-drawn intervals. A Helly-type result follows: A partial representation is extendible if and only if every quadruple of pre-drawn intervals is extendible by itself. Our characterization leads to a linear-time certifying algorithm for partial representation extension.