graph theory - Reconstruction puzzles

For your question #5, this can be generalized to: given two categories $A$ and $B$, describe the functors $Ato B$. For a closer match, you can restrict to the functors which map irreducible maps (those that cannot be written as a composition of two non-identity maps) to irreducible maps.

You example corresponds to letting $A$ be the poset you drew considered as a category, and $B$ the category of graphs and embeddings. This provides a formal statement of your example.

You can generalize a bit differently by asking: given a category $A$, describe the pairs $(B,F)$ with $B$ a category and $F:Ato B$ a functor (preserving irreducibility of maps, if you want...). It would not be without interest to know of another such functor from your poset to a category which is not graphs---as that would, I think, give a category equivalent to (Finite graphs and embeddings).

From this point of view, we get the following answer to your question #3: this is just representation theory.

It is clear that your puzzle can be solved algorithmically (in so far as infinite puzzles can be...): starting from the root, and proceeding level by level (where levels are defined by counting vertices) just try assigning graphs to vertices, and backtracking when you hit an inconsistency. Provided you know the puzzle is solvable (and in this case you do know!)

As Harrison notes, your question #4 is equivalent to Harary's Set Reconstruction Conjecture: the levels up to 4 vertices you work out by hand, and then use the conjecture to check that a node in a level is determined by those in the level right below it from which there is an arrow coming in.