Patent ID: 8666907

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for rule-based automated return authorization, the method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for: storing one or more return request rules, each of the return request rules defining one or more conditions under which a return request received from a buyer of an item can be automatically approved or denied by a return request processing engine; receiving a return request from a buyer of an item; in response to receiving the return request, executing the return request processing engine to determine whether the received return request can be automatically approved or denied based upon the return request rules; and in response to the return request processing engine determining that the return request cannot be automatically approved or denied, transmitting a message to a seller device that is executing an e-mail application and that is associated with a seller of the item, the message comprising data that, when displayed by the e-mail application, causes the seller device to display a user interface through which the return request is approved or denied by way of a single user input within the e-mail application, and wherein the message further comprises data that, when executed in response to the single input within the e-mail application, causes the seller device to generate an instruction for creating a new return request rule to enable automatic approval or denial of return requests for the item, the new return request rule being based upon behavior of the seller in approving or denying the return of the item.