Patent ID: 8544725

Claim:
An apparatus for processing readable indicia, the apparatus comprising: a memory; a processor; and a computing module stored in the memory, executable by the processor, and configured to: receive location information associated with a user; receive authentication credentials input by the user; receive readable indicia associated with a purchase of an item; determine whether the readable indicia is activated, wherein the readable indicia is thermo-sensitive, wherein the readable indicia is permanently activated based on both the purchase of the item and a thermo-sensitive interaction between the item and the readable indicia, wherein the interaction is performed following the purchase of the item, wherein the readable indicia is not activated prior to the purchase of the item; in response to determining the readable indicia is activated, determine whether the module has previously received the readable indicia; in response to determining the module has not previously received the readable indicia and in response to determining the location information indicates the user's presence at a merchant associated with the purchase, process the readable indicia and the authentication credentials to determine at least one of advancement in a game or a reward; and in response to determining the module has previously received the readable indicia, initiate presentation of a rejection message to the user, wherein the rejection message informs the user that the readable indicia has been received previously.