Abstract: A method of configuring a telephone, comprising configuring a plurality of self-labeling role keys to represent respective user roles, and configuring a plurality of self-labeling role associated keys associated with respective ones of the self-labeling role keys such that upon user selection of one of the self-labeling role keys representing a predetermined user role, the plurality of self-labeling role associated keys are presented to the user for invoking respective features associated with the selected user role. The method incorporates end user behavior patterns to collect programmable key data for the system to automatically update dynamic programmable keys, in conjunction with role associated keys or role independent keys.