Automated user check-in utilizing mobile computing devices

1. A computer-implemented method for checking in at a venue with a mobile computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the mobile computing device via a data network, location information for the venue, wherein the mobile computing device comprises at least one processor and operatively associated memory, and wherein the mobile computing device comprises a graphical user interface that provides the user of the mobile computing device with an pre-check-in option to pre-check-in to the venue;

determining, by the mobile computing device, whether real-time location information for the mobile computing device is available;

conditioned upon the real-time location information of the mobile computing device not being available or the mobile computing device not being within the threshold distance of the venue:

setting a timer of the mobile computing device to a predetermined time period; and

determining whether real-time location information of the mobile computing device is available upon expiration of the predetermined time period;

conditioned upon the real-time location information of the mobile computing device being available, determining, by the mobile computing device, whether the mobile computing device is within a threshold distance of the venue; and

conditioned upon the mobile computing device being presently within the threshold distance of the venue, sending, by the mobile computing device via the data network, a check-in message to a server associated with a social networking check-in Internet service when the mobile computing device is within the threshold distance of the venue only when the pre-check-in option is selected, wherein the check-in message indicates that the user of the mobile computing device is at the venue.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the real-time location information of the mobile computing device is available upon expiration of the predetermined time period comprises waking the at least one processor of the mobile computing device from sleep mode at the expiration of the predetermined time period.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information for the venue is received by the mobile computing device via the data network in response to a search query from the user of the mobile computing device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

a response to the search queries comprises a plurality of results; and

the mobile computing device displays the results on the graphical user interface to the user and receives a selection of the venue by the user from the plurality of results.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether real-time location information of the mobile computing device is available comprises:

receiving from a location system of the mobile computing device data comprising (i) a potential location of the mobile computing device; and (ii) accuracy information for the potential location information; and

determining that the potential location is reliable for use when the accuracy information indicates that the potential location is within a threshold accuracy.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the venue comprises a business location.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold distance is 300 meters.

8. A programmed mobile computing device for checking in at a venue, the programmed mobile computing device comprising:

at least one processor;

a graphical user interface that provides the user of the mobile computing device with an pre-check-in option to pre-check-in to the venue and

a memory associated with the at least one processor, wherein the mobile computing device is programmed to:

receive via a data network, location information for the venue;

determine whether real-time location information for the mobile computing device is available;

conditioned upon the real-time location information of the mobile computing device not being available or the mobile computing device not being within the threshold distance of the venue:

set a timer of the mobile computing device to a predetermined time period; and

determine whether real-time location information of the mobile computing device is available upon expiration of the predetermined time period;

conditioned upon the real-time location information of the mobile computing device being available, determine whether the mobile computing device is within a threshold distance of the venue; and

conditioned upon the mobile computing device being presently within the threshold distance of the venue, send via the data network, a check-in message to a server associated with a social networking check-in Internet service, wherein the check-in message indicates that the user of the mobile computing device is at the venue.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining whether the real-time location information of the mobile computing device is available upon expiration of the predetermined time period comprises waking the at least one processor of the mobile computing device from sleep mode at the expiration of the predetermined time period.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the location information for the venue is received by the mobile computing device via the data network in response to a search query from the user of the mobile computing device.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:

a response to the search queries comprises a plurality of results; and

the mobile computing device displays the results on the graphical user interface to the user and receives a selection of the venue by the user from the plurality of results.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining whether real-time location information of the mobile computing device is available comprises:

receiving from a location system of the mobile computing device data comprising (i) a potential location of the mobile computing device; and (ii) accuracy information for the potential location information; and

determining that the potential location is reliable for use when the accuracy information indicates that the potential location is within a threshold accuracy.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the venue comprises a business location.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the threshold distance is 300 meters.

15. A computer-implemented method for checking in at a venue with a mobile computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the mobile computing device via a data network, location information for the venue, wherein the mobile computing device comprises at least one processor and operatively associated memory;

determining, by the mobile computing device, whether real-time location information for the mobile computing device is available, wherein determining whether the real-time location information is available comprises:

receiving from a location system of the mobile computing device data comprising (i) a potential location of the mobile computing device; and (ii) accuracy information for the potential location information; and

determining that the potential location is reliable for use when the accuracy information indicates that the potential location is within a threshold accuracy;

conditioned upon the real-time location information of the mobile computing device being available, determining, by the mobile computing device, whether the mobile computing device is within a threshold distance of the venue; and

conditioned upon the mobile computing device being presently within the threshold distance of the venue, sending, by the mobile computing device via the data network, a check-in message to a server, wherein the check-in message indicates that the user of the mobile computing device is at the venue.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the server to which the check-in message is sent comprises a server associated with a social networking check-in Internet service.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the mobile computing device comprises a graphical user interface;

the graphical user interface provides the user of the mobile computing device with an pre-check-in option to pre-check-in to the venue; and

the mobile computing device sends the check-in message to the server when the mobile computing device is within the threshold distance of the venue only when the pre-check-in option is selected.

18. A programmed mobile computing device for checking in at a venue, the programmed mobile computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory associated with the at least one processor, wherein the mobile computing device is programmed to:

receive via a data network, location information for the venue;

determine whether real-time location information for the mobile computing device is available, wherein determining whether the real-time location information is available comprises:

receiving from a location system of the mobile computing device data comprising (i) a potential location of the mobile computing device; and (ii) accuracy information for the potential location information; and

determining that the potential location is reliable for use when the accuracy information indicates that the potential location is within a threshold accuracy;

conditioned upon the real-time location information of the mobile computing device being available, determine whether the mobile computing device is within a threshold distance of the venue; and

conditioned upon the mobile computing device being presently within the threshold distance of the venue, send via the data network, a check-in message to a server, wherein the check-in message indicates that the user of the mobile computing device is at the venue.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the server to which the check-in message is sent comprises a server associated with a social networking check-in Internet service.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein:

the mobile computing device comprises a graphical user interface;

the graphical user interface provides the user of the mobile computing device with an pre-check-in option to pre-check-in to the venue; and

the mobile computing device sends the check-in message to the server when the mobile computing device is within the threshold distance of the venue only when the pre-check-in option is selected.