def IPtoInt(a, b, c, d):
    """
    Converts a number from a sequence of dotted decimals into a single unsigned int.
    Args:
        a: IP address segment 1 ###.0.0.0
        b: IP address segment 2 0.###.0.0
        c: IP address segment 3 0.0.###.0
        d: IP address segment 4 0.0.0.###

    Returns: The IP address as a simple 32-bit unsigned integer

    """
    return (int(a) << 24) + (int(b) << 16) + (int(c) << 8) + int(d)
