diff --git a/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/util/IPv4Net.java b/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/util/IPv4Net.java
index f64ccb8..824e3e2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/util/IPv4Net.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/util/IPv4Net.java
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 package net.floodlightcontroller.util;
 
 import net.floodlightcontroller.util.IPv4;
+import net.floodlightcontroller.util.serializers.IPv4NetDeserializer;
 import net.floodlightcontroller.util.serializers.IPv4NetSerializer;
 
 import org.codehaus.jackson.annotate.JsonProperty;
+import org.codehaus.jackson.map.annotate.JsonDeserialize;
 import org.codehaus.jackson.map.annotate.JsonSerialize;
 
 /**
  * The class representing an IPv4 network address.
  */
+@JsonDeserialize(using=IPv4NetDeserializer.class)
 @JsonSerialize(using=IPv4NetSerializer.class)
 public class IPv4Net {
     private IPv4 address;		// The IPv4 address
@@ -33,6 +36,21 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Constructor from a string.
+     *
+     * @param value the value to use.
+     */
+    public IPv4Net(String value) {
+	String[] splits = value.split("/");
+	if (splits.length != 2) {
+	    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Specified IPv4Net address must contain an IPv4 " +
+					       "address and a prefix length separated by '/'");
+	}
+	this.address = new IPv4(splits[0]);
+	this.prefixLen = Short.decode(splits[1]);
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Get the address value of the IPv4Net address.
      *
      * @return the address value of the IPv4Net address.
@@ -40,6 +58,15 @@
     public IPv4 address() { return address; }
 
     /**
+     * Set the address value of the IPv4Net address.
+     *
+     * @param address the address to use.
+     */
+    public void setAddress(IPv4 address) {
+	this.address = address;
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Get the prefix length value of the IPv4Net address.
      *
      * @return the prefix length value of the IPv4Net address.
@@ -47,6 +74,15 @@
     public short prefixLen() { return prefixLen; }
 
     /**
+     * Set the prefix length value of the IPv4Net address.
+     *
+     * @param prefixLen the prefix length to use.
+     */
+    public void setPrefixLen(short prefixLen) {
+	this.prefixLen = prefixLen;
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Set the value of the IPv4Net address.
      *
      * @param address the address to use.