public function checkPath($path = null)
  {
    if($path === null)
    {
      $path = $this->path;
    }

    if(strlen($path) == 0)
    {
      return TRUE;
    }

    $pattern = "/^" . $this->regex["path"] . "$/";
    $status = @preg_match($pattern, $path);

    if($status === FALSE)
    {
      throw new Exception("URI path validation failed");
    }

    return ($status == 1);
  }