An apparatus comprising a processor configured to compose a plurality of protocol stacks, and dereference a layered URI using at least one of the plurality of protocol stacks. Also, a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the following receive a layered URI, and call a URI dereference extension, wherein the dereference extension is configured to construct a protocol stack, wherein the protocol stack comprises a first connector, a second connector, and a binder, and wherein the first and second connectors are selected from a plurality of connectors based on the URI.