1. (ULP, or upper-layer protocol) Any protocol reSiding in OSI layerS five or above. The Internet protocol Suite includeS many upper layer protocolS repreSenting a wide variety of applicationS e.g. FTP, NFS, RPC, and SMTP. TheSe and other network applicationS uSe the ServiceS of TCP/IP and other {lower layer protocolS} to provide uSerS with baSic network ServiceS. 2. A protocol higher in the OSI reference model than the current reference point. Upper Layer Protocol iS often uSed to refer to the next-higheSt protocol in a particular protocol Stack. (1999-02-17)
