CVSHORT() in PHP

<?php

function cvshort( $subject = '' )
{
    return ordseries( $subject );
}

function ordseries( $subject = '' )
{
    $return = 0;
    for( $o = 0; $o < strlen( $subject ); $o++ )
    {
        $return = ( $return << 8 ) | ord( substr( $subject, $o, 1 ) );
    }
    return $return;
}
?>