public static String cleanPath(String path) {
		if (path == null) {
			return null;
		}
		String pathToUse = replace(path, WINDOWS_FOLDER_SEPARATOR, FOLDER_SEPARATOR);

		// Strip prefix from path to analyze, to not treat it as part of the
		// first path element. This is necessary to correctly parse paths like
		// "file:core/../core/io/Resource.class", where the ".." should just
		// strip the first "core" directory while keeping the "file:" prefix.
		int prefixIndex = pathToUse.indexOf(":");
		String prefix = "";
		if (prefixIndex != -1) {
			prefix = pathToUse.substring(0, prefixIndex + 1);
			pathToUse = pathToUse.substring(prefixIndex + 1);
		}
		if (pathToUse.startsWith(FOLDER_SEPARATOR)) {
			prefix = prefix + FOLDER_SEPARATOR;
			pathToUse = pathToUse.substring(1);
		}

		String[] pathArray = delimitedListToStringArray(pathToUse, FOLDER_SEPARATOR);
		List<String> pathElements = new LinkedList<String>();
		int tops = 0;

		for (int i = pathArray.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
			String element = pathArray[i];
			if (CURRENT_PATH.equals(element)) {
				// Points to current directory - drop it.
			}
			else if (TOP_PATH.equals(element)) {
				// Registering top path found.
				tops++;
			}
			else {
				if (tops > 0) {
					// Merging path element with element corresponding to top path.
					tops--;
				}
				else {
					// Normal path element found.
					pathElements.add(0, element);
				}
			}
		}

		// Remaining top paths need to be retained.
		for (int i = 0; i < tops; i++) {
			pathElements.add(0, TOP_PATH);
		}

		return prefix + collectionToDelimitedString(pathElements, FOLDER_SEPARATOR);
	}