def rel(other)
			if (!other.kind_of?(IPv4Net))
				raise ArgumentError, "Expected an IPv4Net object for 'other' but got a #{other.class}."
			end
			
			# when networks are equal then we can look exlusively at the netmask
			if (self.network.addr == other.network.addr)
				return self.netmask.cmp(other.netmask)
			end
			
			# when networks are not equal we can use hostmask to test if they are
			# related and which is the supernet vs the subnet
			hostmask = self.netmask.mask ^ NetAddr::F32
			otherHostmask = other.netmask.mask ^ NetAddr::F32
			if (self.network.addr|hostmask == other.network.addr|hostmask)
				return 1
			elsif (self.network.addr|otherHostmask == other.network.addr|otherHostmask)
				return -1
			end
			return nil
		end
def rel(other)
			if (!other.kind_of?(IPv4Net))
				raise ArgumentError, "Expected an IPv4Net object for 'other' but got a #{other.class}."
			end
			
			# when networks are equal then we can look exlusively at the netmask
			if (self.network.addr == other.network.addr)
				return self.netmask.cmp(other.netmask)
			end
			
			# when networks are not equal we can use hostmask to test if they are
			# related and which is the supernet vs the subnet
			hostmask = self.netmask.mask ^ NetAddr::F32
			otherHostmask = other.netmask.mask ^ NetAddr::F32
			if (self.network.addr|hostmask == other.network.addr|hostmask)
				return 1
			elsif (self.network.addr|otherHostmask == other.network.addr|otherHostmask)
				return -1
			end
			return nil
		end
rel determines the relationship to another IPv4Net. Returns:
 * 1 if this IPv4Net is the supernet of other
 * 0 if the two are equal
 * -1 if this IPv4Net is a subnet of other
 * nil if the networks are unrelated