A mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet computer, can execute functionality for configuring a network device in a communication network and for subsequently controlling the operation of the network device with little manual input. The mobile device can detect sensor information from a network device. The mobile device can determine device configuration information based, at least in part, on decoding the sensor information. The mobile device can provide the device configuration information to an access point of a network. The mobile device can receive communication link information from the access point. The mobile device can provide the communication link information to the network device. The mobile device can receive a message indicating a communication link between the network device and the access point is established.