In information technology, a protocol is the special set of rules for communicating that the end points in a telecommunication connection use when they send signals back and forth.
Protocols exist at several levels in a telecommunication connection.
There are hardware telephone protocols. There are protocols between the end points in communicating programs within the same computer or at different locations. Both end points must recognize and observe the protocol. Protocols are often described in an industry or international standard. All I'd really like to say is that your use of the word protocol was confusing.