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, from the network device, sensor information that is indicative of configuration information associated with the network device. The mobile device can decode the received sensor information to determine the configuration information and can accordingly enroll the network device in the communication network. In response to determining to control the enrolled network device, the mobile device can capture an image of the network device and can use the captured image to unambiguously identify the network device. The mobile device can establish a communication link with the network device and can transmit one or more commands to vary operating parameters of the network device.