diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2MatchKey.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2MatchKey.java
deleted file mode 100644
index d068328..0000000
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2MatchKey.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,175 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
-
-import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
-import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
-import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParam;
-import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamExact;
-import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamLPM;
-import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamTernary;
-import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamType;
-import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamValid;
-
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
-import java.util.Arrays;
-import java.util.Collections;
-import java.util.List;
-import java.util.Objects;
-
-/**
- * Bmv2 match key representation.
- */
-public final class Bmv2MatchKey {
-
-    private final List<BmMatchParam> matchParams;
-
-    /**
-     * Creates a new match key.
-     *
-     * @param matchParams The ordered list of match parameters
-     */
-    private Bmv2MatchKey(List<BmMatchParam> matchParams) {
-        this.matchParams = matchParams;
-    }
-
-    public static Builder builder() {
-        return new Builder();
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Returns the match parameters defined for this match key (read-only).
-     *
-     * @return match parameters
-     */
-    public final List<BmMatchParam> bmMatchParams() {
-        return Collections.unmodifiableList(matchParams);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public final int hashCode() {
-        return Objects.hashCode(matchParams);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public final boolean equals(Object obj) {
-        if (this == obj) {
-            return true;
-        }
-        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        final Bmv2MatchKey other = (Bmv2MatchKey) obj;
-
-        return Objects.equals(this.matchParams, other.matchParams);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public final String toString() {
-        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(this)
-                .addValue(matchParams)
-                .toString();
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Builder of a Bmv2 match key.
-     */
-    public static final class Builder {
-
-        private List<BmMatchParam> matchParams;
-
-        private Builder() {
-            this.matchParams = Lists.newArrayList();
-        }
-
-        /**
-         * Adds an exact match parameter.
-         *
-         * @param key a ByteBuffer value
-         * @return this
-         */
-        public Builder withExact(ByteBuffer key) {
-            this.matchParams.add(
-                    new BmMatchParam(BmMatchParamType.EXACT)
-                            .setExact(new BmMatchParamExact(key)));
-            return this;
-        }
-
-
-        /**
-         * Adds a longest prefix match parameter.
-         *
-         * @param key          a ByteBuffer value
-         * @param prefixLength an integer value
-         * @return this
-         */
-        public Builder withLpm(ByteBuffer key, int prefixLength) {
-            this.matchParams.add(
-                    new BmMatchParam(BmMatchParamType.LPM)
-                            .setLpm(new BmMatchParamLPM(key, prefixLength)));
-            return this;
-        }
-
-        /**
-         * Adds a ternary match parameter.
-         *
-         * @param key  a ByteBuffer value
-         * @param mask an ByteBuffer value
-         * @return this
-         */
-        public Builder withTernary(ByteBuffer key, ByteBuffer mask) {
-            this.matchParams.add(
-                    new BmMatchParam(BmMatchParamType.TERNARY).
-                            setTernary(new BmMatchParamTernary(key, mask)));
-            return this;
-        }
-
-        /**
-         * Adds a ternary match parameter where all bits are don't-care.
-         *
-         * @param byteLength an integer value representing the length in byte of the parameter
-         * @return this
-         */
-        public Builder withWildcard(int byteLength) {
-            byte[] zeros = new byte[byteLength];
-            Arrays.fill(zeros, (byte) 0);
-            return this.withTernary(ByteBuffer.wrap(zeros), ByteBuffer.wrap(zeros));
-        }
-
-        /**
-         * Adds a valid match parameter.
-         *
-         * @param key a boolean value
-         * @return this
-         */
-        public Builder withValid(boolean key) {
-            this.matchParams.add(
-                    new BmMatchParam(BmMatchParamType.VALID)
-                            .setValid(new BmMatchParamValid(key)));
-            return this;
-        }
-
-        /**
-         * Builds a new match key object.
-         *
-         * @return match key
-         */
-        public Bmv2MatchKey build() {
-            return new Bmv2MatchKey(this.matchParams);
-        }
-    }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2Model.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2Model.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a5e8a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2Model.java
@@ -0,0 +1,433 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import com.eclipsesource.json.JsonArray;
+import com.eclipsesource.json.JsonObject;
+import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
+import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
+import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
+import com.google.common.collect.Sets;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2MatchParam;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.SortedMap;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+
+/**
+ * Partial representation of a packet processing model for BMv2. Such a model is
+ * used to define the way BMv2 should process packets (i.e. it defines the
+ * device ingress/egress pipelines, parser, tables, actions, etc.) and can be
+ * generated (i.e. JSON) by compiling a P4 program using p4c-bm.
+ * <p>
+ * It must be noted that this class exposes only a subset of the full model
+ * properties (only those that are needed for the purpose of mapping ONOS types
+ * to BMv2 types.
+ *
+ * @see <a href="https://github.com/p4lang/p4c-bm">
+ * P4 front-end compiler for BMv2 (p4c-bm)</a>
+ */
+public final class Bmv2Model {
+
+    private final JsonObject json;
+    private final DualKeySortedMap<Bmv2ModelHeaderType> headerTypes = new DualKeySortedMap<>();
+    private final DualKeySortedMap<Bmv2ModelHeader> headers = new DualKeySortedMap<>();
+    private final DualKeySortedMap<Bmv2ModelAction> actions = new DualKeySortedMap<>();
+    private final DualKeySortedMap<Bmv2ModelTable> tables = new DualKeySortedMap<>();
+
+    private Bmv2Model(JsonObject json) {
+        this.json = JsonObject.unmodifiableObject(json);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns a new BMv2 model object by parsing the passed JSON.
+     *
+     * @param json json
+     * @return a new BMv2 configuration object
+     * @see <a href="https://github.com/p4lang/behavioral-model/blob/master/docs/JSON_format.md">
+     * BMv2 JSON specification</a>
+     */
+    public static Bmv2Model parse(JsonObject json) {
+        checkArgument(json != null, "json cannot be null");
+        // TODO: implement caching, no need to parse a json if we already have the model
+        Bmv2Model model = new Bmv2Model(json);
+        model.doParse();
+        return model;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the header type associated with the passed numeric id,
+     * null if there's no such an id in the model.
+     *
+     * @param id integer value
+     * @return header type object or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelHeaderType headerType(int id) {
+        return headerTypes.get(id);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the header type associated with the passed name,
+     * null if there's no such a name in the model.
+     *
+     * @param name string value
+     * @return header type object or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelHeaderType headerType(String name) {
+        return headerTypes.get(name);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the list of all the header types defined by in this model.
+     * Values returned are sorted in ascending order based on the numeric id.
+     *
+     * @return list of header types
+     */
+    public List<Bmv2ModelHeaderType> headerTypes() {
+        return ImmutableList.copyOf(headerTypes.sortedMap().values());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the header associated with the passed numeric id,
+     * null if there's no such an id in the model.
+     *
+     * @param id integer value
+     * @return header object or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelHeader header(int id) {
+        return headers.get(id);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the header associated with the passed name,
+     * null if there's no such a name in the model.
+     *
+     * @param name string value
+     * @return header object or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelHeader header(String name) {
+        return headers.get(name);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the list of all the header instances defined in this model.
+     * Values returned are sorted in ascending order based on the numeric id.
+     *
+     * @return list of header types
+     */
+    public List<Bmv2ModelHeader> headers() {
+        return ImmutableList.copyOf(headers.sortedMap().values());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the action associated with the passed numeric id,
+     * null if there's no such an id in the model.
+     *
+     * @param id integer value
+     * @return action object or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelAction action(int id) {
+        return actions.get(id);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the action associated with the passed name,
+     * null if there's no such a name in the model.
+     *
+     * @param name string value
+     * @return action object or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelAction action(String name) {
+        return actions.get(name);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the list of all the actions defined by in this model.
+     * Values returned are sorted in ascending order based on the numeric id.
+     *
+     * @return list of actions
+     */
+    public List<Bmv2ModelAction> actions() {
+        return ImmutableList.copyOf(actions.sortedMap().values());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the table associated with the passed numeric id,
+     * null if there's no such an id in the model.
+     *
+     * @param id integer value
+     * @return table object or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelTable table(int id) {
+        return tables.get(id);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the table associated with the passed name,
+     * null if there's no such a name in the model.
+     *
+     * @param name string value
+     * @return table object or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelTable table(String name) {
+        return tables.get(name);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the list of all the tables defined by in this model.
+     * Values returned are sorted in ascending order based on the numeric id.
+     *
+     * @return list of actions
+     */
+    public List<Bmv2ModelTable> tables() {
+        return ImmutableList.copyOf(tables.sortedMap().values());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return an unmodifiable view of the low-level JSON representation of this
+     * model.
+     *
+     * @return a JSON object.
+     */
+    public JsonObject json() {
+        return this.json;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Generates a hash code for this BMv2 model. The hash function is based
+     * solely on the low-level JSON representation.
+     */
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return json.hashCode();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether some other BMv2 model is equal to this one.
+     * Equality is based solely on the low-level JSON representation.
+     *
+     * @param obj other object
+     * @return true if equals, false elsewhere
+     */
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2Model other = (Bmv2Model) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.json, other.json);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("jsonHash", json.hashCode())
+                .toString();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Parse the JSON object and build the corresponding objects.
+     */
+    private void doParse() {
+        // parse header types
+        json.get("header_types").asArray().forEach(val -> {
+
+            JsonObject jHeaderType = val.asObject();
+
+            // populate fields list
+            List<Bmv2ModelFieldType> fieldTypes = Lists.newArrayList();
+
+            jHeaderType.get("fields").asArray().forEach(x -> fieldTypes.add(
+                    new Bmv2ModelFieldType(
+                            x.asArray().get(0).asString(),
+                            x.asArray().get(1).asInt())));
+
+            // add header type instance
+            String name = jHeaderType.get("name").asString();
+            int id = jHeaderType.get("id").asInt();
+
+            Bmv2ModelHeaderType headerType = new Bmv2ModelHeaderType(name,
+                                                                     id,
+                                                                     fieldTypes);
+
+            headerTypes.put(name, id, headerType);
+        });
+
+        // parse headers
+        json.get("headers").asArray().forEach(val -> {
+
+            JsonObject jHeader = val.asObject();
+
+            String name = jHeader.get("name").asString();
+            int id = jHeader.get("id").asInt();
+            String typeName = jHeader.get("header_type").asString();
+
+            Bmv2ModelHeader header = new Bmv2ModelHeader(name,
+                                                         id,
+                                                         headerTypes.get(typeName),
+                                                         jHeader.get("metadata").asBoolean());
+
+            // add instance
+            headers.put(name, id, header);
+        });
+
+        // parse actions
+        json.get("actions").asArray().forEach(val -> {
+
+            JsonObject jAction = val.asObject();
+
+            // populate runtime data list
+            List<Bmv2ModelRuntimeData> runtimeDatas = Lists.newArrayList();
+
+            jAction.get("runtime_data").asArray().forEach(jData -> runtimeDatas.add(
+                    new Bmv2ModelRuntimeData(
+                            jData.asObject().get("name").asString(),
+                            jData.asObject().get("bitwidth").asInt()
+                    )));
+
+            // add action instance
+            String name = jAction.get("name").asString();
+            int id = jAction.get("id").asInt();
+
+            Bmv2ModelAction action = new Bmv2ModelAction(name,
+                                                         id,
+                                                         runtimeDatas);
+
+            actions.put(name, id, action);
+        });
+
+        // parse tables
+        json.get("pipelines").asArray().forEach(pipeline -> {
+
+            pipeline.asObject().get("tables").asArray().forEach(val -> {
+
+                JsonObject jTable = val.asObject();
+
+                // populate keys
+                List<Bmv2ModelTableKey> keys = Lists.newArrayList();
+
+                jTable.get("key").asArray().forEach(jKey -> {
+                    JsonArray target = jKey.asObject().get("target").asArray();
+
+                    Bmv2ModelHeader header = header(target.get(0).asString());
+                    String typeName = target.get(1).asString();
+
+                    Bmv2ModelField field = new Bmv2ModelField(
+                            header, header.type().field(typeName));
+
+                    String matchTypeStr = jKey.asObject().get("match_type").asString();
+
+                    Bmv2MatchParam.Type matchType;
+
+                    switch (matchTypeStr) {
+                        case "ternary":
+                            matchType = Bmv2MatchParam.Type.TERNARY;
+                            break;
+                        case "exact":
+                            matchType = Bmv2MatchParam.Type.EXACT;
+                            break;
+                        case "lpm":
+                            matchType = Bmv2MatchParam.Type.LPM;
+                            break;
+                        case "valid":
+                            matchType = Bmv2MatchParam.Type.VALID;
+                            break;
+                        default:
+                            throw new RuntimeException(
+                                    "Unable to parse match type: " + matchTypeStr);
+                    }
+
+                    keys.add(new Bmv2ModelTableKey(matchType, field));
+                });
+
+                // populate actions set
+                Set<Bmv2ModelAction> actionzz = Sets.newHashSet();
+                jTable.get("actions").asArray().forEach(
+                        jAction -> actionzz.add(action(jAction.asString())));
+
+                // add table instance
+                String name = jTable.get("name").asString();
+                int id = jTable.get("id").asInt();
+
+                Bmv2ModelTable table = new Bmv2ModelTable(name,
+                                                          id,
+                                                          jTable.get("match_type").asString(),
+                                                          jTable.get("type").asString(),
+                                                          jTable.get("max_size").asInt(),
+                                                          jTable.get("with_counters").asBoolean(),
+                                                          jTable.get("support_timeout").asBoolean(),
+                                                          keys,
+                                                          actionzz);
+
+                tables.put(name, id, table);
+            });
+        });
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Handy class for a map indexed by two keys, a string and an integer.
+     *
+     * @param <T> type of value stored by the map
+     */
+    private class DualKeySortedMap<T> {
+        private final SortedMap<Integer, T> intMap = Maps.newTreeMap();
+        private final Map<String, Integer> strToIntMap = Maps.newHashMap();
+
+        private void put(String name, int id, T object) {
+            strToIntMap.put(name, id);
+            intMap.put(id, object);
+        }
+
+        private T get(int id) {
+            return intMap.get(id);
+        }
+
+        private T get(String name) {
+            return get(strToIntMap.get(name));
+        }
+
+        private SortedMap<Integer, T> sortedMap() {
+            return intMap;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public int hashCode() {
+            return Objects.hashCode(intMap, strToIntMap);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+            if (this == obj) {
+                return true;
+            }
+            if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+                return false;
+            }
+            final DualKeySortedMap other = (DualKeySortedMap) obj;
+            return Objects.equal(this.intMap, other.intMap)
+                    && Objects.equal(this.strToIntMap, other.strToIntMap);
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelAction.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelAction.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f53806b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelAction.java
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
+import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * BMv2 model action.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2ModelAction {
+
+    private final String name;
+    private final int id;
+    private final LinkedHashMap<String, Bmv2ModelRuntimeData> runtimeDatas = Maps.newLinkedHashMap();
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new action object.
+     *
+     * @param name         name
+     * @param id           id
+     * @param runtimeDatas list of runtime data
+     */
+    protected Bmv2ModelAction(String name, int id, List<Bmv2ModelRuntimeData> runtimeDatas) {
+        this.name = name;
+        this.id = id;
+        runtimeDatas.forEach(r -> this.runtimeDatas.put(r.name(), r));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the name of this action.
+     *
+     * @return a string value
+     */
+    public String name() {
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the id of this action.
+     *
+     * @return an integer value
+     */
+    public int id() {
+        return id;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns this action's runtime data defined by the passed name, null
+     * if not present.
+     *
+     * @return runtime data or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelRuntimeData runtimeData(String name) {
+        return runtimeDatas.get(name);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an immutable list of runtime data for this action.
+     * The list is ordered according to the values defined in the model.
+     *
+     * @return list of runtime data.
+     */
+    public List<Bmv2ModelRuntimeData> runtimeDatas() {
+        return ImmutableList.copyOf(runtimeDatas.values());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hash(name, id, runtimeDatas);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ModelAction other = (Bmv2ModelAction) obj;
+        return Objects.equals(this.name, other.name)
+                && Objects.equals(this.id, other.id)
+                && Objects.equals(this.runtimeDatas, other.runtimeDatas);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("name", name)
+                .add("id", id)
+                .add("runtimeDatas", runtimeDatas)
+                .toString();
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelField.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelField.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f20ae3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelField.java
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a BMv2 model's header field instance.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2ModelField {
+
+    private final Bmv2ModelHeader header;
+    private final Bmv2ModelFieldType type;
+
+    protected Bmv2ModelField(Bmv2ModelHeader header, Bmv2ModelFieldType type) {
+        this.header = header;
+        this.type = type;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the header instance of this field instance.
+     *
+     * @return a header instance
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelHeader header() {
+        return header;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the type of this field instance.
+     *
+     * @return a field type value
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelFieldType type() {
+        return type;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(header, type);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ModelField other = (Bmv2ModelField) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.header, other.header)
+                && Objects.equal(this.type, other.type);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("header", header)
+                .add("type", type)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelFieldType.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelFieldType.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0147bbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelFieldType.java
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * BMv2 model header type field.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2ModelFieldType {
+
+    private final String name;
+    private final int bitWidth;
+
+    protected Bmv2ModelFieldType(String name, int bitWidth) {
+        this.name = name;
+        this.bitWidth = bitWidth;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the name of this header type field.
+     *
+     * @return a string value
+     */
+    public String name() {
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the bit width of this header type field.
+     *
+     * @return an integer value
+     */
+    public int bitWidth() {
+        return bitWidth;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(name, bitWidth);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ModelFieldType other = (Bmv2ModelFieldType) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.name, other.name)
+                && Objects.equal(this.bitWidth, other.bitWidth);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("name", name)
+                .add("bitWidth", bitWidth)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelHeader.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelHeader.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..abab008
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelHeader.java
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a BMv2 model header instance.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2ModelHeader {
+
+    private final String name;
+    private final int id;
+    private final Bmv2ModelHeaderType type;
+    private final boolean isMetadata;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new header instance.
+     *
+     * @param name     name
+     * @param id       id
+     * @param type     header type
+     * @param metadata if is metadata
+     */
+    protected Bmv2ModelHeader(String name, int id, Bmv2ModelHeaderType type, boolean metadata) {
+        this.name = name;
+        this.id = id;
+        this.type = type;
+        this.isMetadata = metadata;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the name of this header instance.
+     *
+     * @return a string value
+     */
+    public String name() {
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return the id of this header instance.
+     *
+     * @return an integer value
+     */
+    public int id() {
+        return id;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return the type of this header instance.
+     *
+     * @return a header type value
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelHeaderType type() {
+        return type;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return true if this header instance is a metadata, false elsewhere.
+     *
+     * @return a boolean value
+     */
+    public boolean isMetadata() {
+        return isMetadata;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(name, id, type, isMetadata);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ModelHeader other = (Bmv2ModelHeader) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.name, other.name)
+                && Objects.equal(this.id, other.id)
+                && Objects.equal(this.type, other.type)
+                && Objects.equal(this.isMetadata, other.isMetadata);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("name", name)
+                .add("id", id)
+                .add("type", type)
+                .add("isMetadata", isMetadata)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelHeaderType.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelHeaderType.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3865871
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelHeaderType.java
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
+import com.google.common.collect.Maps;
+
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * BMv2 model header type.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2ModelHeaderType {
+
+    private final String name;
+    private final int id;
+    private final LinkedHashMap<String, Bmv2ModelFieldType> fields = Maps.newLinkedHashMap();
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new header type instance.
+     *
+     * @param name       name
+     * @param id         id
+     * @param fieldTypes fields
+     */
+    protected Bmv2ModelHeaderType(String name, int id, List<Bmv2ModelFieldType> fieldTypes) {
+        this.name = name;
+        this.id = id;
+        fieldTypes.forEach(f -> this.fields.put(f.name(), f));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns this header type name.
+     *
+     * @return name
+     */
+    public String name() {
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns this header type id.
+     *
+     * @return id
+     */
+    public int id() {
+        return id;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns this header type's field defined by the passed name, null if
+     * not present.
+     *
+     * @param fieldName field name
+     * @return field or null
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelFieldType field(String fieldName) {
+        return fields.get(fieldName);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return and immutable list of header fields for this header
+     * type. The list is ordered according to the values defined in the
+     * model.
+     *
+     * @return list of fields
+     */
+    public List<Bmv2ModelFieldType> fields() {
+        return ImmutableList.copyOf(fields.values());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(name, id, fields);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ModelHeaderType other = (Bmv2ModelHeaderType) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.name, other.name)
+                && Objects.equal(this.id, other.id)
+                && Objects.equal(this.fields, other.fields);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("name", name)
+                .add("id", id)
+                .add("fields", fields)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelRuntimeData.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelRuntimeData.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..388c137
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelRuntimeData.java
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * BMv2 model action runtime data.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2ModelRuntimeData {
+
+    private final String name;
+    private final int bitWidth;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new runtime data.
+     *
+     * @param name     name
+     * @param bitWidth bitwidth
+     */
+    protected Bmv2ModelRuntimeData(String name, int bitWidth) {
+        this.name = name;
+        this.bitWidth = bitWidth;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return the name of this runtime data.
+     *
+     * @return a string value
+     */
+    public String name() {
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return the bit width of this runtime data.
+     *
+     * @return an integer value
+     */
+    public int bitWidth() {
+        return bitWidth;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hash(name, bitWidth);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ModelRuntimeData other = (Bmv2ModelRuntimeData) obj;
+        return Objects.equals(this.name, other.name)
+                && Objects.equals(this.bitWidth, other.bitWidth);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("name", name)
+                .add("bitWidth", bitWidth)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelTable.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelTable.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2dc7e3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelTable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * BMv2 model table representation.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2ModelTable {
+
+    private final String name;
+    private final int id;
+    private final String matchType;
+    private final String type;
+    private final int maxSize;
+    private final boolean hasCounters;
+    private final boolean hasTimeouts;
+    private final List<Bmv2ModelTableKey> keys;
+    private final Set<Bmv2ModelAction> actions;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new table.
+     *
+     * @param name           name
+     * @param id             id
+     * @param matchType      match type
+     * @param type           type
+     * @param maxSize        max number of entries
+     * @param withCounters   if table has counters
+     * @param supportTimeout if table supports aging
+     * @param keys           list of match keys
+     * @param actions        list of actions
+     */
+    protected Bmv2ModelTable(String name, int id, String matchType, String type,
+                             int maxSize, boolean withCounters, boolean supportTimeout,
+                             List<Bmv2ModelTableKey> keys, Set<Bmv2ModelAction> actions) {
+        this.name = name;
+        this.id = id;
+        this.matchType = matchType;
+        this.type = type;
+        this.maxSize = maxSize;
+        this.hasCounters = withCounters;
+        this.hasTimeouts = supportTimeout;
+        this.keys = keys;
+        this.actions = actions;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the name of this table.
+     *
+     * @return a string value
+     */
+    public String name() {
+        return name;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the id of this table.
+     *
+     * @return an integer value
+     */
+    public int id() {
+        return id;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return the match type of this table.
+     *
+     * @return a string value
+     */
+    public String matchType() {
+        return matchType;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return the match type of this table.
+     *
+     * @return a string value
+     */
+    public String type() {
+        return type;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the maximum number of entries supported by this table.
+     *
+     * @return an integer value
+     */
+    public int maxSize() {
+        return maxSize;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if this table has counters, false otherwise.
+     *
+     * @return a boolean value
+     */
+    public boolean hasCunters() {
+        return hasCounters;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true if this table supports aging, false otherwise.
+     *
+     * @return a boolean value
+     */
+    public boolean hasTimeouts() {
+        return hasTimeouts;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the list of match keys supported by this table.
+     * The list is ordered accordingly to the model's table definition.
+     *
+     * @return a list of match keys
+     */
+    public List<Bmv2ModelTableKey> keys() {
+        return keys;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the set of actions supported by this table.
+     *
+     * @return a list of actions
+     */
+    public Set<Bmv2ModelAction> actions() {
+        return actions;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(name, id, matchType, type, maxSize, hasCounters,
+                                hasTimeouts, keys, actions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ModelTable other = (Bmv2ModelTable) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.name, other.name)
+                && Objects.equal(this.id, other.id)
+                && Objects.equal(this.matchType, other.matchType)
+                && Objects.equal(this.type, other.type)
+                && Objects.equal(this.maxSize, other.maxSize)
+                && Objects.equal(this.hasCounters, other.hasCounters)
+                && Objects.equal(this.hasTimeouts, other.hasTimeouts)
+                && Objects.equal(this.keys, other.keys)
+                && Objects.equal(this.actions, other.actions);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("name", name)
+                .add("id", id)
+                .add("matchType", matchType)
+                .add("type", type)
+                .add("maxSize", maxSize)
+                .add("hasCounters", hasCounters)
+                .add("hasTimeouts", hasTimeouts)
+                .add("keys", keys)
+                .add("actions", actions)
+                .toString();
+    }
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelTableKey.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelTableKey.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a98a7ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/Bmv2ModelTableKey.java
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
+
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2MatchParam;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.toStringHelper;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a table key.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2ModelTableKey {
+
+    private final Bmv2MatchParam.Type matchType;
+    private final Bmv2ModelField field;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new table key.
+     *
+     * @param matchType match type
+     * @param field     field instance
+     */
+    protected Bmv2ModelTableKey(Bmv2MatchParam.Type matchType, Bmv2ModelField field) {
+        this.matchType = matchType;
+        this.field = field;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the match type of this key.
+     *
+     * @return a string value
+     * TODO returns enum of match type
+     */
+    public Bmv2MatchParam.Type matchType() {
+        return matchType;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the header field instance matched by this key.
+     *
+     * @return a header field value
+     */
+    public Bmv2ModelField field() {
+        return field;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(matchType, field);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ModelTableKey other = (Bmv2ModelTableKey) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.matchType, other.matchType)
+                && Objects.equal(this.field, other.field);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("matchType", matchType)
+                .add("field", field)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/package-info.java
similarity index 68%
copy from protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java
copy to protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/package-info.java
index a428491..adadced 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/model/package-info.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,14 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
-
 /**
- * General Bmv2 exception.
+ * BMv2 configuration model classes.
  */
-public class Bmv2Exception extends Exception {
-
-    public Bmv2Exception(String message, Throwable cause) {
-        super(message, cause);
-    }
-}
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.model;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/package-info.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/package-info.java
index d8946e3..4d982ed 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/package-info.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/package-info.java
@@ -16,5 +16,10 @@
 
 /**
  * Bmv2 API abstractions.
+ * <p>
+ * Bmv2 APIs are divided in two sub-packages, runtime and model.
+ * Runtime APIs are used to represent operations that can be performed at runtime
+ * on a Bmv2 device, while model APIs are used to describe the Bmv2 packet
+ * processing model.
  */
 package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Action.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2Action.java
similarity index 75%
rename from protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Action.java
rename to protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2Action.java
index 5bbc50b..9b2a209 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Action.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2Action.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,27 +14,28 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
 
 import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
 import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
+import org.onlab.util.ImmutableByteSequence;
 
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Objects;
 
 import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkState;
 
 /**
- * Bmv2 Action representation.
+ * Bmv2 action representation.
  */
 public final class Bmv2Action {
 
     private final String name;
-    private final List<ByteBuffer> parameters;
+    private final List<ImmutableByteSequence> parameters;
 
-    private Bmv2Action(String name, List<ByteBuffer> parameters) {
+    private Bmv2Action(String name, List<ImmutableByteSequence> parameters) {
         // hide constructor
         this.name = name;
         this.parameters = parameters;
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get action name.
+     * Return the name of this action.
      *
      * @return action name
      */
@@ -57,11 +58,12 @@
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get list of action parameters ordered as per P4 action definition.
+     * Returns an immutable view of the ordered list of parameters of this
+     * action.
      *
-     * @return List of action parameters
+     * @return list of byte sequence
      */
-    public final List<ByteBuffer> parameters() {
+    public final List<ImmutableByteSequence> parameters() {
         return Collections.unmodifiableList(parameters);
     }
 
@@ -96,8 +98,8 @@
      */
     public static final class Builder {
 
-        private String name;
-        private List<ByteBuffer> parameters;
+        private String name = null;
+        private List<ImmutableByteSequence> parameters;
 
         private Builder() {
             this.parameters = Lists.newArrayList();
@@ -110,7 +112,7 @@
          * @return this
          */
         public Builder withName(String actionName) {
-            this.name = actionName;
+            this.name = checkNotNull(actionName);
             return this;
         }
 
@@ -120,8 +122,8 @@
          * @param parameter a ByteBuffer value
          * @return this
          */
-        public Builder addParameter(ByteBuffer parameter) {
-            parameters.add(parameter);
+        public Builder addParameter(ImmutableByteSequence parameter) {
+            parameters.add(checkNotNull(parameter));
             return this;
         }
 
@@ -131,7 +133,7 @@
          * @return a Bmv2 action
          */
         public Bmv2Action build() {
-            checkNotNull(name, "Action name not set");
+            checkState(name != null, "action name not set");
             return new Bmv2Action(name, parameters);
         }
     }
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExactMatchParam.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExactMatchParam.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d23bfc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExactMatchParam.java
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
+
+import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+import org.onlab.util.ImmutableByteSequence;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a Bmv2 exact match parameter.
+ */
+public class Bmv2ExactMatchParam implements Bmv2MatchParam {
+
+    private final ImmutableByteSequence value;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new match parameter object that matches exactly on the
+     * given byte sequence.
+     *
+     * @param value a byte sequence value
+     */
+    public Bmv2ExactMatchParam(ImmutableByteSequence value) {
+        this.value = checkNotNull(value, "value cannot be null");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Type type() {
+        return Type.EXACT;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Return the byte sequence value matched by this parameter.
+     *
+     * @return an immutable byte buffer value
+     */
+    public ImmutableByteSequence value() {
+        return this.value;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(value);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ExactMatchParam other = (Bmv2ExactMatchParam) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.value, other.value);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("value", value)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2ExtensionSelector.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExtensionSelector.java
similarity index 89%
rename from protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2ExtensionSelector.java
rename to protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExtensionSelector.java
index 1bd9f1c..bf44a0e 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2ExtensionSelector.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExtensionSelector.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,13 +14,16 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
 
 import org.onlab.util.KryoNamespace;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.AbstractExtension;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.criteria.ExtensionSelector;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.criteria.ExtensionSelectorType;
 
+/**
+ * Extension selector for Bmv2 used as a wrapper for a {@link Bmv2MatchKey}.
+ */
 public class Bmv2ExtensionSelector extends AbstractExtension implements ExtensionSelector {
 
     private final KryoNamespace appKryo = new KryoNamespace.Builder().build();
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2ExtensionTreatment.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExtensionTreatment.java
similarity index 89%
rename from protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2ExtensionTreatment.java
rename to protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExtensionTreatment.java
index cf48e38..12ab1e3 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2ExtensionTreatment.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ExtensionTreatment.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,13 +14,16 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
 
 import org.onlab.util.KryoNamespace;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.AbstractExtension;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.instructions.ExtensionTreatment;
 import org.onosproject.net.flow.instructions.ExtensionTreatmentType;
 
+/**
+ * Extension treatment for Bmv2 used as a wrapper for a {@link Bmv2Action}.
+ */
 public class Bmv2ExtensionTreatment extends AbstractExtension implements ExtensionTreatment {
 
     private final KryoNamespace appKryo = new KryoNamespace.Builder().build();
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2LpmMatchParam.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2LpmMatchParam.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29d5279
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2LpmMatchParam.java
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
+
+import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+import org.onlab.util.ImmutableByteSequence;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a Bmv2 longest prefix match (LPM) parameter.
+ */
+public class Bmv2LpmMatchParam implements Bmv2MatchParam {
+
+    private final ImmutableByteSequence value;
+    private final int prefixLength;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new LPM parameter using the given byte sequence value and
+     * prefix length.
+     *
+     * @param value        a byte sequence value
+     * @param prefixLength an integer value
+     */
+    public Bmv2LpmMatchParam(ImmutableByteSequence value, int prefixLength) {
+        checkArgument(prefixLength >= 0, "prefix length cannot be negative");
+        this.value = checkNotNull(value);
+        this.prefixLength = prefixLength;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Bmv2MatchParam.Type type() {
+        return Type.LPM;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the byte sequence value of this parameter.
+     *
+     * @return a byte sequence value
+     */
+    public ImmutableByteSequence value() {
+        return this.value;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the prefix length of this parameter.
+     *
+     * @return an integer value
+     */
+    public int prefixLength() {
+        return this.prefixLength;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(value, prefixLength);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2LpmMatchParam other = (Bmv2LpmMatchParam) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.value, other.value)
+                && Objects.equal(this.prefixLength, other.prefixLength);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("value", value)
+                .add("prefixLength", prefixLength)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2MatchKey.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2MatchKey.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cdcfcd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2MatchKey.java
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
+
+import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
+import org.onlab.util.ImmutableByteSequence;
+
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+
+/**
+ * Bmv2 match key representation.
+ */
+public final class Bmv2MatchKey {
+
+    private final List<Bmv2MatchParam> matchParams;
+
+    private Bmv2MatchKey(List<Bmv2MatchParam> matchParams) {
+        // ban constructor
+        this.matchParams = matchParams;
+    }
+
+    public static Builder builder() {
+        return new Builder();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an immutable view of the ordered list of match parameters of this
+     * match key.
+     *
+     * @return list match parameters
+     */
+    public final List<Bmv2MatchParam> matchParams() {
+        return Collections.unmodifiableList(matchParams);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public final int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(matchParams);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public final boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2MatchKey other = (Bmv2MatchKey) obj;
+
+        return Objects.equals(this.matchParams, other.matchParams);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public final String toString() {
+        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(this)
+                .addValue(matchParams)
+                .toString();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Builder of a Bmv2 match key.
+     */
+    public static final class Builder {
+
+        private List<Bmv2MatchParam> matchParams;
+
+        private Builder() {
+            this.matchParams = Lists.newArrayList();
+        }
+
+        public Builder add(Bmv2MatchParam param) {
+            this.matchParams.add(checkNotNull(param));
+            return this;
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Adds a ternary match parameter where all bits are don't-care.
+         *
+         * @param byteLength length in bytes of the parameter
+         * @return this
+         */
+        public Builder withWildcard(int byteLength) {
+            checkArgument(byteLength > 0, "length must be a positive integer");
+            return add(new Bmv2TernaryMatchParam(
+                    ImmutableByteSequence.ofZeros(byteLength),
+                    ImmutableByteSequence.ofZeros(byteLength)));
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Builds a new match key object.
+         *
+         * @return match key
+         */
+        public Bmv2MatchKey build() {
+            return new Bmv2MatchKey(this.matchParams);
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2MatchParam.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2MatchParam.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35bac79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2MatchParam.java
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a Bmv2 match parameter.
+ */
+public interface Bmv2MatchParam {
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the match type of this parameter.
+     *
+     * @return a match type value
+     */
+    Type type();
+
+    /**
+     * Bmv2 match types.
+     */
+    enum Type {
+        /**
+         * Exact match type.
+         */
+        EXACT,
+        /**
+         * Ternary match type.
+         */
+        TERNARY,
+        /**
+         * Longest-prefix match type.
+         */
+        LPM,
+        /**
+         * Valid match type.
+         */
+        VALID;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2PortInfo.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2PortInfo.java
similarity index 93%
rename from protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2PortInfo.java
rename to protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2PortInfo.java
index 3f36ade..c6be426 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2PortInfo.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2PortInfo.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
 
 import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
 import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.DevMgrPortInfo;
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2RuntimeException.java
similarity index 63%
copy from protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java
copy to protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2RuntimeException.java
index a428491..f7153c5 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2RuntimeException.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,14 +14,18 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
 
 /**
- * General Bmv2 exception.
+ * General exception of the Bmv2 runtime APIs.
  */
-public class Bmv2Exception extends Exception {
+public class Bmv2RuntimeException extends Exception {
 
-    public Bmv2Exception(String message, Throwable cause) {
+    public Bmv2RuntimeException(String message, Throwable cause) {
         super(message, cause);
     }
+
+    public Bmv2RuntimeException(String message) {
+        super(message);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2TableEntry.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2TableEntry.java
similarity index 87%
rename from protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2TableEntry.java
rename to protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2TableEntry.java
index 4bf0291..96adadd 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2TableEntry.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2TableEntry.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,12 +14,13 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
-
-import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
 
 import java.util.Objects;
 
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+
 /**
  * Bmv2 representation of a table entry.
  */
@@ -43,6 +44,11 @@
         this.timeout = timeout;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a new Bmv2 table entry builder.
+     *
+     * @return a new builder.
+     */
     public static Builder builder() {
         return new Builder();
     }
@@ -159,7 +165,7 @@
          * @return this
          */
         public Builder withTableName(String tableName) {
-            this.tableName = tableName;
+            this.tableName = checkNotNull(tableName, "table name cannot be null");
             return this;
         }
 
@@ -170,7 +176,7 @@
          * @return this
          */
         public Builder withMatchKey(Bmv2MatchKey matchKey) {
-            this.matchKey = matchKey;
+            this.matchKey = checkNotNull(matchKey, "match key cannot be null");
             return this;
         }
 
@@ -181,11 +187,12 @@
          * @return this
          */
         public Builder withAction(Bmv2Action action) {
-            this.action = action;
+            this.action = checkNotNull(action, "action cannot be null");
             return this;
         }
 
         public Builder withPriority(int priority) {
+            checkArgument(priority >= 0, "priority cannot be negative");
             this.priority = priority;
             return this;
         }
@@ -197,6 +204,7 @@
          * @return this
          */
         public Builder withTimeout(double timeout) {
+            checkArgument(timeout > 0, "timeout must be a positive non-zero value");
             this.timeout = timeout;
             return this;
         }
@@ -207,10 +215,6 @@
          * @return a new table entry object
          */
         public Bmv2TableEntry build() {
-            Preconditions.checkNotNull(tableName);
-            Preconditions.checkNotNull(matchKey);
-            Preconditions.checkNotNull(action);
-
             return new Bmv2TableEntry(tableName, matchKey, action, priority,
                                       timeout);
 
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2TernaryMatchParam.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2TernaryMatchParam.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..76d42c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2TernaryMatchParam.java
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
+
+import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+import com.google.common.base.Objects;
+import org.onlab.util.ImmutableByteSequence;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkState;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a Bmv2 ternary match parameter.
+ */
+public class Bmv2TernaryMatchParam implements Bmv2MatchParam {
+
+    private final ImmutableByteSequence value;
+    private final ImmutableByteSequence mask;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new ternary match parameter using the given byte sequences of
+     * value and mask.
+     *
+     * @param value a byte sequence value
+     * @param mask  a byte sequence value
+     */
+    public Bmv2TernaryMatchParam(ImmutableByteSequence value,
+                                 ImmutableByteSequence mask) {
+        this.value = checkNotNull(value, "value cannot be null");
+        this.mask = checkNotNull(mask, "value cannot be null");
+        checkState(value.size() == mask.size(),
+                   "value and mask must have equal size");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Type type() {
+        return Type.TERNARY;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the byte sequence value of by this parameter.
+     *
+     * @return a byte sequence value
+     */
+    public ImmutableByteSequence value() {
+        return this.value;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the byte sequence mask of by this parameter.
+     *
+     * @return a byte sequence value
+     */
+    public ImmutableByteSequence mask() {
+        return this.mask;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(value, mask);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2TernaryMatchParam other = (Bmv2TernaryMatchParam) obj;
+        return Objects.equal(this.value, other.value)
+                && Objects.equal(this.mask, other.mask);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("value", value)
+                .add("mask", mask)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ValidMatchParam.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ValidMatchParam.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31080d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/Bmv2ValidMatchParam.java
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
+
+
+import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
+
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+/**
+ * Representation of a Bmv2 valid match parameter.
+ */
+public class Bmv2ValidMatchParam implements Bmv2MatchParam {
+
+    private final boolean flag;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new valid match parameter using the given boolean flag.
+     *
+     * @param flag a boolean value
+     */
+    public Bmv2ValidMatchParam(boolean flag) {
+        this.flag = flag;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Type type() {
+        return Type.VALID;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the boolean flag of this parameter.
+     *
+     * @return a boolean value
+     */
+    public boolean flag() {
+        return flag;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hashCode(flag);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        final Bmv2ValidMatchParam other = (Bmv2ValidMatchParam) obj;
+        return this.flag == other.flag;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return MoreObjects.toStringHelper(this)
+                .add("flag", flag)
+                .toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/package-info.java
similarity index 68%
rename from protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java
rename to protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/package-info.java
index a428491..8c11944 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/Bmv2Exception.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/api/runtime/package-info.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2014-2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,14 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-package org.onosproject.bmv2.api;
-
 /**
- * General Bmv2 exception.
+ * Bmv2 runtime APIs.
  */
-public class Bmv2Exception extends Exception {
-
-    public Bmv2Exception(String message, Throwable cause) {
-        super(message, cause);
-    }
-}
+package org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/ctl/Bmv2ThriftClient.java b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/ctl/Bmv2ThriftClient.java
index c3c86c1..eb6687a 100644
--- a/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/ctl/Bmv2ThriftClient.java
+++ b/protocols/bmv2/src/main/java/org/onosproject/bmv2/ctl/Bmv2ThriftClient.java
@@ -31,15 +31,28 @@
 import org.apache.thrift.transport.TSocket;
 import org.apache.thrift.transport.TTransport;
 import org.apache.thrift.transport.TTransportException;
-import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.Bmv2Action;
-import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.Bmv2Exception;
-import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.Bmv2PortInfo;
-import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.Bmv2TableEntry;
+import org.onlab.util.ImmutableByteSequence;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2Action;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2ExactMatchParam;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2RuntimeException;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2LpmMatchParam;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2MatchKey;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2PortInfo;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2TableEntry;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2TernaryMatchParam;
+import org.onosproject.bmv2.api.runtime.Bmv2ValidMatchParam;
 import org.onosproject.net.DeviceId;
 import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmAddEntryOptions;
+import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParam;
+import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamExact;
+import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamLPM;
+import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamTernary;
+import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamType;
+import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.BmMatchParamValid;
 import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.DevMgrPortInfo;
 import org.p4.bmv2.thrift.Standard;
 
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
@@ -63,31 +76,37 @@
         - avoids opening a new transport session when there's one already open
         - close the connection after a predefined timeout of 5 seconds
      */
-    private static LoadingCache<DeviceId, Pair<TTransport, Standard.Iface>>
+    private static LoadingCache<DeviceId, Bmv2ThriftClient>
             clientCache = CacheBuilder.newBuilder()
             .expireAfterAccess(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
             .removalListener(new ClientRemovalListener())
             .build(new ClientLoader());
     private final Standard.Iface stdClient;
+    private final TTransport transport;
 
     // ban constructor
-    private Bmv2ThriftClient(Standard.Iface stdClient) {
+    private Bmv2ThriftClient(TTransport transport, Standard.Iface stdClient) {
+        this.transport = transport;
         this.stdClient = stdClient;
     }
 
+    private void closeTransport() {
+        this.transport.close();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns a client object to control the passed device.
      *
      * @param deviceId device id
      * @return bmv2 client object
-     * @throws Bmv2Exception if a connection to the device cannot be established
+     * @throws Bmv2RuntimeException if a connection to the device cannot be established
      */
-    public static Bmv2ThriftClient of(DeviceId deviceId) throws Bmv2Exception {
+    public static Bmv2ThriftClient of(DeviceId deviceId) throws Bmv2RuntimeException {
         try {
             checkNotNull(deviceId, "deviceId cannot be null");
-            return new Bmv2ThriftClient(clientCache.get(deviceId).getValue());
+            return clientCache.get(deviceId);
         } catch (ExecutionException e) {
-            throw new Bmv2Exception(e.getMessage(), e.getCause());
+            throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e.getCause());
         }
     }
 
@@ -103,7 +122,7 @@
         try {
             of(deviceId).stdClient.bm_dev_mgr_show_ports();
             return true;
-        } catch (TException | Bmv2Exception e) {
+        } catch (TException | Bmv2RuntimeException e) {
             return false;
         }
     }
@@ -129,13 +148,70 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Builds a list of Bmv2/Thrift compatible match parameters.
+     *
+     * @param matchKey a bmv2 matchKey
+     * @return list of thrift-compatible bm match parameters
+     */
+    private static List<BmMatchParam> buildMatchParamsList(Bmv2MatchKey matchKey) {
+        List<BmMatchParam> paramsList = Lists.newArrayList();
+        matchKey.matchParams().forEach(x -> {
+            switch (x.type()) {
+                case EXACT:
+                    paramsList.add(
+                            new BmMatchParam(BmMatchParamType.EXACT)
+                                    .setExact(new BmMatchParamExact(
+                                            ((Bmv2ExactMatchParam) x).value().asReadOnlyBuffer())));
+                    break;
+                case TERNARY:
+                    paramsList.add(
+                            new BmMatchParam(BmMatchParamType.TERNARY)
+                                    .setTernary(new BmMatchParamTernary(
+                                            ((Bmv2TernaryMatchParam) x).value().asReadOnlyBuffer(),
+                                            ((Bmv2TernaryMatchParam) x).mask().asReadOnlyBuffer())));
+                    break;
+                case LPM:
+                    paramsList.add(
+                            new BmMatchParam(BmMatchParamType.LPM)
+                                    .setLpm(new BmMatchParamLPM(
+                                            ((Bmv2LpmMatchParam) x).value().asReadOnlyBuffer(),
+                                            ((Bmv2LpmMatchParam) x).prefixLength())));
+                    break;
+                case VALID:
+                    paramsList.add(
+                            new BmMatchParam(BmMatchParamType.VALID)
+                                    .setValid(new BmMatchParamValid(
+                                            ((Bmv2ValidMatchParam) x).flag())));
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    // should never be here
+                    throw new RuntimeException("Unknown match param type " + x.type().name());
+            }
+        });
+        return paramsList;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Build a list of Bmv2/Thrift compatible action parameters.
+     *
+     * @param action an action object
+     * @return list of ByteBuffers
+     */
+    private static List<ByteBuffer> buildActionParamsList(Bmv2Action action) {
+        return action.parameters()
+                .stream()
+                .map(ImmutableByteSequence::asReadOnlyBuffer)
+                .collect(Collectors.toList());
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Adds a new table entry.
      *
      * @param entry a table entry value
      * @return table-specific entry ID
-     * @throws Bmv2Exception if any error occurs
+     * @throws Bmv2RuntimeException if any error occurs
      */
-    public final long addTableEntry(Bmv2TableEntry entry) throws Bmv2Exception {
+    public final long addTableEntry(Bmv2TableEntry entry) throws Bmv2RuntimeException {
 
         long entryId = -1;
 
@@ -149,9 +225,9 @@
             entryId = stdClient.bm_mt_add_entry(
                     CONTEXT_ID,
                     entry.tableName(),
-                    entry.matchKey().bmMatchParams(),
+                    buildMatchParamsList(entry.matchKey()),
                     entry.action().name(),
-                    entry.action().parameters(),
+                    buildActionParamsList(entry.action()),
                     options);
 
             if (entry.hasTimeout()) {
@@ -170,10 +246,10 @@
                             CONTEXT_ID, entry.tableName(), entryId);
                 } catch (TException e1) {
                     // this should never happen as we know the entry is there
-                    throw new Bmv2Exception(e1.getMessage(), e1);
+                    throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e1.getMessage(), e1);
                 }
             }
-            throw new Bmv2Exception(e.getMessage(), e);
+            throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -183,11 +259,11 @@
      * @param tableName string value of table name
      * @param entryId   long value of entry ID
      * @param action    an action value
-     * @throws Bmv2Exception if any error occurs
+     * @throws Bmv2RuntimeException if any error occurs
      */
     public final void modifyTableEntry(String tableName,
                                        long entryId, Bmv2Action action)
-            throws Bmv2Exception {
+            throws Bmv2RuntimeException {
 
         try {
             stdClient.bm_mt_modify_entry(
@@ -195,10 +271,9 @@
                     tableName,
                     entryId,
                     action.name(),
-                    action.parameters()
-            );
+                    buildActionParamsList(action));
         } catch (TException e) {
-            throw new Bmv2Exception(e.getMessage(), e);
+            throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -207,15 +282,15 @@
      *
      * @param tableName string value of table name
      * @param entryId   long value of entry ID
-     * @throws Bmv2Exception if any error occurs
+     * @throws Bmv2RuntimeException if any error occurs
      */
     public final void deleteTableEntry(String tableName,
-                                       long entryId) throws Bmv2Exception {
+                                       long entryId) throws Bmv2RuntimeException {
 
         try {
             stdClient.bm_mt_delete_entry(CONTEXT_ID, tableName, entryId);
         } catch (TException e) {
-            throw new Bmv2Exception(e.getMessage(), e);
+            throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -224,19 +299,19 @@
      *
      * @param tableName string value of table name
      * @param action    an action value
-     * @throws Bmv2Exception if any error occurs
+     * @throws Bmv2RuntimeException if any error occurs
      */
     public final void setTableDefaultAction(String tableName, Bmv2Action action)
-            throws Bmv2Exception {
+            throws Bmv2RuntimeException {
 
         try {
             stdClient.bm_mt_set_default_action(
                     CONTEXT_ID,
                     tableName,
                     action.name(),
-                    action.parameters());
+                    buildActionParamsList(action));
         } catch (TException e) {
-            throw new Bmv2Exception(e.getMessage(), e);
+            throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -244,9 +319,9 @@
      * Returns information of the ports currently configured in the switch.
      *
      * @return collection of port information
-     * @throws Bmv2Exception if any error occurs
+     * @throws Bmv2RuntimeException if any error occurs
      */
-    public Collection<Bmv2PortInfo> getPortsInfo() throws Bmv2Exception {
+    public Collection<Bmv2PortInfo> getPortsInfo() throws Bmv2RuntimeException {
 
         try {
             List<DevMgrPortInfo> portInfos = stdClient.bm_dev_mgr_show_ports();
@@ -261,7 +336,7 @@
             return bmv2PortInfos;
 
         } catch (TException e) {
-            throw new Bmv2Exception(e.getMessage(), e);
+            throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -270,28 +345,28 @@
      *
      * @param tableName string value of table name
      * @return table string dump
-     * @throws Bmv2Exception if any error occurs
+     * @throws Bmv2RuntimeException if any error occurs
      */
-    public String dumpTable(String tableName) throws Bmv2Exception {
+    public String dumpTable(String tableName) throws Bmv2RuntimeException {
 
         try {
             return stdClient.bm_dump_table(CONTEXT_ID, tableName);
         } catch (TException e) {
-            throw new Bmv2Exception(e.getMessage(), e);
+            throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
         }
     }
 
     /**
      * Reset the state of the switch (e.g. delete all entries, etc.).
      *
-     * @throws Bmv2Exception if any error occurs
+     * @throws Bmv2RuntimeException if any error occurs
      */
-    public void resetState() throws Bmv2Exception {
+    public void resetState() throws Bmv2RuntimeException {
 
         try {
             stdClient.bm_reset_state();
         } catch (TException e) {
-            throw new Bmv2Exception(e.getMessage(), e);
+            throw new Bmv2RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
         }
     }
 
@@ -299,10 +374,10 @@
      * Transport/client cache loader.
      */
     private static class ClientLoader
-            extends CacheLoader<DeviceId, Pair<TTransport, Standard.Iface>> {
+            extends CacheLoader<DeviceId, Bmv2ThriftClient> {
 
         @Override
-        public Pair<TTransport, Standard.Iface> load(DeviceId deviceId)
+        public Bmv2ThriftClient load(DeviceId deviceId)
                 throws TTransportException {
             Pair<String, Integer> info = parseDeviceId(deviceId);
             //make the expensive call
@@ -314,7 +389,7 @@
 
             transport.open();
 
-            return ImmutablePair.of(transport, stdClient);
+            return new Bmv2ThriftClient(transport, stdClient);
         }
     }
 
@@ -322,14 +397,13 @@
      * Client cache removal listener. Close the connection on cache removal.
      */
     private static class ClientRemovalListener implements
-            RemovalListener<DeviceId, Pair<TTransport, Standard.Iface>> {
+            RemovalListener<DeviceId, Bmv2ThriftClient> {
 
         @Override
         public void onRemoval(
-                RemovalNotification<DeviceId, Pair<TTransport, Standard.Iface>>
-                        notification) {
+                RemovalNotification<DeviceId, Bmv2ThriftClient> notification) {
             // close the transport connection
-            notification.getValue().getKey().close();
+            notification.getValue().closeTransport();
         }
     }
 }