def from_bytes(cls, bitstream, decode_payload=True):
        '''
        Parse the given packet and update properties accordingly
        '''
        packet = cls()

        # Convert to ConstBitStream (if not already provided)
        if not isinstance(bitstream, ConstBitStream):
            if isinstance(bitstream, Bits):
                bitstream = ConstBitStream(auto=bitstream)
            else:
                bitstream = ConstBitStream(bytes=bitstream)

        # Read the version
        version = bitstream.read('uint:4')
        if version != packet.version:
            raise ValueError('Provided bytes do not contain an IPv4 packet')

        # Read the header length
        ihl = bitstream.read('uint:4')
        if ihl < 5:
            raise ValueError('Invalid IPv4 header length')

        # Now that we know the length of the header we store it to be able
        # to easily recalculate the header checksum later
        remaining_header_bits = (ihl * 32) - 8
        header = (BitStream('uint:4=4, uint:4=%d' % ihl) +
                  bitstream.peek(remaining_header_bits))

        # Read the type of service
        packet.tos = bitstream.read('uint:8')

        # Read the total length
        total_length = bitstream.read('uint:16')
        if total_length < ihl * 4:
            raise ValueError('Total length is shorter than the header')

        # Read the identification
        packet.identification = bitstream.read('uint:16')

        # Read the flags
        (reserved,
         packet.dont_fragment,
         packet.more_fragments) = bitstream.readlist('3*bool')

        if reserved:
            raise ValueError('Reserved flag must be 0')

        # Read the fragment offset
        packet.fragment_offset = bitstream.read('uint:13')

        # Read the TTL
        packet.ttl = bitstream.read('uint:8')

        # Read the protocol number
        packet.protocol = bitstream.read('uint:8')

        # Read the header checksum
        header_checksum = bitstream.read('uint:16')

        # Set the checksum bits in the header to 0 and re-calculate
        header[80:96] = BitStream(16)
        my_checksum = checksum.ones_complement(header.bytes)

        if my_checksum != header_checksum:
            raise ValueError('Header checksum does not match')

        # Read the source and destination addresses
        packet.source = IPv4Address(bitstream.read('uint:32'))
        packet.destination = IPv4Address(bitstream.read('uint:32'))

        # Read the options
        option_len = (ihl - 5) * 4
        packet.options = bitstream.read('bytes:%d' % option_len)

        # And the rest is payload
        payload_bytes = (total_length) - (ihl * 4)
        packet.payload = bitstream.read('bytes:%d' % payload_bytes)

        if decode_payload:
            payload_class = protocol_registry.get_type_class(packet.protocol)
            if payload_class:
                packet.payload = payload_class.from_bytes(packet.payload)

        # There should be no remaining bits
        if bitstream.pos != bitstream.len:
            raise ValueError('Bits remaining after processing packet')

        # Verify that the properties make sense
        packet.sanitize()

        return packet