In computer networking, BEEP (Blocks Extensible Exchange Protocol) is a framework for creating network application protocols. It includes an application protocol kernel for connection-oriented asynchronous interactions, and can be used both for binary and text messages within the context of a single application user identity.
BEEP is intended to abstract-out the common features that have traditionally been duplicated in each protocol implementation. BEEP (formerly called BXXP) typically runs on top of TCP and allows the exchange of messages called 'frames'. Unlike HTTP (and similar protocols), either end of the connection can send a frame at any time, and 'questions' and 'replies' can be interleaved easily. BEEP also includes facilities for encryption and authentication, and is highly extensible.
BEEP was designed by Marshall Rose, who also worked on the POP3, SMTP, and SNMP protocols.