Content-Type: text/html Wikipedia: Protocol

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In networking, a protocol is the specification of a set of rules for a particular type of communication. The term is also used to refer to the software that implements a protocol.

Most recent protocols are assinged by the IETF for internet communications, and the IEEE, or the ISO organizations for other types.


In international law and [international relations]?, a protocol is a treaty or [international agreement]? that supplements a previous treaty or international agreement. A protocol can ammend the previous treaty, or add additional provisions. Parties to the earlier agreement are not required to adopt the protocol; sometimes this is made clearer by calling it an 'optional protocol', especially where many parties to the first agreement do not support the protocol.

Some examples: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) established a framework for the development of binding greenhouse gas emission limits, while the Kyoto Protocol contained the guidelines later agreed upon.


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Last edited August 4, 2001 2:09 am (diff)
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