This paper presents a new paradigm for network computing over the Internet called universal personal computing, where mobile users can access computing resources, network services, and personalized computing environments anywhere using any available terminals. The user and system requirements are defined, and an agent-based protocol architecture required to manage different mobile objects, i.e., users and terminals, in this computing environment is presented. Modifications of connection setup procedures between user application programs to enable addressing based on a global user identity are considered. The use of personal agents to facilitate interworking and management functions is proposed.