Rules of Communication

In any conversation between two people, there are many rules, or protocols, that the two must follow in order for the message to be successfully delivered and understood. Among the protocols for successful human communication are:
Identification of sender and receiver
Agreed-upon medium or channel (face-to-face, telephone, letter, photograph)
Appropriate communication mode (spoken, written, illustrated, interactive or one-way)
Common language
Grammar and sentence structure
Speed and timing of delivery

Imagine what would happen if no protocols or rules existed to govern how people communicate with each other. Would you be able to understand them? Are you able to read the paragraph that does not follow commonly accepted protocols?

Protocols are specific to the characteristics of the source, channel and destination of the message. The rules used to communicate over one medium, like a telephone call, are not necessarily the same as communication using another medium, such as a letter.

Protocols define the details of how the message is transmitted, and delivered. This includes issues of:
Message format
Message size
Timing
Encapsulation
Encoding
Standard message pattern

Many of the concepts and rules that make human communication reliable and understandable also apply to computer communication.