The present invention defines a HTTP or CoAP request message that combines one or more HTTP or CoAP requests along with timing information (432-1). The message is sent by a control device (132) to a network proxy (i.e. a network router (112)) via a control network (120). The network proxy decodes the message and subsequently controls destination devices, in particular luminaires (L1, L2, L3, L4), in a timed manner using the HTTP or CoAP requests. The network proxy is application-independent and also enables control of third party HTTP-or CoAP-based devices that are not aware of timed requests. Improved timing performance is obtained by choosing the network proxy location “close by”, in terms of network hops and/or latency, to the destination devices to be controlled.