A packetised data network includes IP telephones (ITs) and a network
intelligence (NI). All of the keys of each IT are "soft" keys (i.e., they
have no fixed function). The NI associates a configuration data structure
with the IT which correlates the keys with functions, and, based on this,
may control the display of the IT to indicate the current function of
certain of the soft keys. Some of the functions are requests for data
services at the telephone (e.g., video or programmed audio over the
internet). When a user requests such a service with a key press, the NI
sets up the service between the data source and the telephone. This may
require associating a new configuration data structure with the keys of
the IT. The IT user may activate multiple data services through the NI.