Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Application Service Element
     
         (ASE) Software in the {presentation layer} of the
        {OSI} seven layer model which provides an abstracted interface
        layer to service {application protocol data units} (APDU).
        Because {applications} and {networks} vary, ASEs are split
        into common services and specific services.
     
        Examples of services provided by the {common application
        service element} (CASE) include remote operations (ROSE) and
        {database} {concurrency control and recovery} (CCR).
     
        The {specific application service element} (SASE) provides
        more specialised services such as file transfer, database
        access, and order entry.
     
        {Csico docs
       
     (http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/osi_prot.htm)}.
     
        (2003-09-27)