+# b4_ints_in(INT1, INT2, LOW, HIGH)
+# ---------------------------------
+# Return 1 iff both INT1 and INT2 are in [LOW, HIGH], 0 otherwise.
+m4_define([b4_ints_in],
+[m4_eval([$3 <= $1 && $1 <= $4 && $3 <= $2 && $2 <= $4])])
+
+
+# b4_int_type(MIN, MAX)
+# ---------------------
+# Return the smallest int type able to handle numbers ranging from
+# MIN to MAX (included).
+m4_define([b4_int_type],
+[m4_if(b4_ints_in($@, [0], [255]), [1], [unsigned char],
+ b4_ints_in($@, [-128], [128]), [1], [signed char],
+
+ b4_ints_in($@, [0], [65535]), [1], [unsigned short],
+ b4_ints_in($@, [-32768], [32767]), [1], [short],
+
+ m4_eval([0 <= $1]), [1], [unsigned int],
+
+ [int])])
+
+# b4_int_type_for(NAME)
+# ---------------------
+# Return the smallest int type able to handle numbers ranging from
+# `NAME_min' to `NAME_max' (included).
+m4_define([b4_int_type_for],
+[b4_int_type($1_min, $1_max)])