# File lib/methods.rb, line 800
def unshorten(ip)

    # is this a string?
    if (!ip.kind_of? String)
        raise ArgumentError, "Expected String, but #{ip.class} provided."
    end

    validate_ip_str(ip, 6)
    ipv4_mapped = true if (ip =~ /\./)

    ip_int = ip_to_i(ip, :Version => 6)
    if (!ipv4_mapped)
        long = ip_int_to_str(ip_int, 6)
    else
        long = ip_int_to_str(ip_int, 6, true)
    end

    return(long)
end