protected function IPLongCompare($long1, $long2, $operator = '=')
    {
        $operators = preg_split('//', $operator);
        $diff   = bccomp($long1, $long2);

        foreach ($operators as $operator) {
            switch(true)
            {
                case ( ( $operator === '=' ) && ( $diff == 0 ) ):
                case ( ( $operator === '<' ) && ( $diff < 0 ) ):
                case ( ( $operator === '>' ) && ( $diff > 0 ) ):
                    return true;
            }
        }

        return false;
    }