diff --git a/src/node/ipv4-address.cc b/src/node/ipv4-address.cc
index f8ff9f7a6..5e68720e3 100644
--- a/src/node/ipv4-address.cc
+++ b/src/node/ipv4-address.cc
@@ -145,6 +145,18 @@ Ipv4Address::IsEqual (Ipv4Address other) const
   }
 }
 
+bool
+Ipv4Address::IsBroadcast (void) const
+{
+  return (m_address == 0xffffffffU);
+}
+
+Ipv4Address
+Ipv4Address::CombineMask (Ipv4Mask const &mask) const
+{
+  return Ipv4Address (GetHostOrder () & mask.GetHostOrder ());
+}
+
 bool 
 Ipv4Address::IsMulticast (void)
 {
diff --git a/src/node/ipv4-address.h b/src/node/ipv4-address.h
index dc834052a..0fe400af5 100644
--- a/src/node/ipv4-address.h
+++ b/src/node/ipv4-address.h
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 
 namespace ns3 {
 
+class Ipv4Mask;
+
 /** Ipv4 addresses are stored in host order in
   * this class.
   */
@@ -80,8 +82,19 @@ public:
    */
   void Print (std::ostream &os) const;
 
-  bool IsBroadcast (void);
+  bool IsBroadcast (void) const;
   bool IsMulticast (void);
+  
+  /**
+   * \brief Combine this address with a network mask
+   *
+   * This method returns an IPv4 address that is this address combined
+   * (bitwise and) with a network mask, yielding an IPv4 network
+   * address.
+   *
+   * \param a network mask 
+   */
+  Ipv4Address CombineMask (Ipv4Mask const &mask) const;
 
   static Ipv4Address GetZero (void);
   static Ipv4Address GetAny (void);