The CHUM Concept to Support Efficient Mobile 
        Access to Internet Services

              Matt Mutka
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
       Michigan State University

In this talk we explore the concept of forming ad hoc 
networks for the sole purpose of helping mobile devices 
consume less power and telecommunication costs when they 
access Internet services.  Our first example of this 
concept focuses on Instant Messaging (IM) services.  
We propose an approach, called CHUM (Cooperating ad Hoc 
environment to sUpport Messaging), to provide near 
real-time services (such as instant messaging) for highly 
mobile users.  CHUM will allow virtually continuous 
Internet connectivity at low mobile device power consumption 
while additionally enabling schemes to reduce connection 
time and data traffic to reduce telecommunication charges.  
The approach is designed to work for users who visit 
shopping centers, restaurants, sporting events, or elsewhere 
that there are several other users who are interested in 
receiving the same benefits of near real-time services 
at low costs.  Users will cooperate with each other to 
share network resources to achieve the enhanced services 
and capabilities.  Nevertheless, users who cooperate do not 
need to know each other.  They do not need to trust each 
other explicitly, and might not even know of the presence 
of others who are cooperating.