<?php
function pieces($p, $offset, $length = null)
{
if ($offset >= 0) $offset++;
return implode('/', array_slice(explode('/', $p), $offset, $length));
}
echo pieces('/a/b/c/d', 0, 1);
echo pieces('/a/b/c/d', 0, 2);
echo pieces('/a/b/c/d', -2);
echo pieces('/a/b/c/d', -2, 1);
?>