def parse_byte_range(byte_range, min_byte=0, max_byte=sys.maxint):
    """
    Parse and validate a byte range. A byte range is a tuple of (begin, end)
    indices. `begin' should be smaller than `end', and both should fall within
    the `min_byte' and `max_byte'.

    In case of a violation, a `ValueError` is raised.
    """

    if not byte_range:
        return min_byte, max_byte

    begin = byte_range[0] or min_byte
    end = byte_range[1] or max_byte

    if end < begin:
        raise ValueError("End before begin")

    if begin < min_byte:
        raise ValueError("Begin smaller than min")

    if end > max_byte:
        raise ValueError("End larger than max")

    return begin, end