private Object getAdditionParameterInfo(byte type, String additionalInfo) {
		Object returnValue = additionalInfo;
		if(type==Query.CONSECUTIVE_MONTH) {
			try {
				returnValue = Integer.parseInt(additionalInfo);
			} catch(NumberFormatException e) {
				System.err.println("Illegal parameter for ConsecutiveMonth: " + additionalInfo);
				System.exit(-1);
			}
		} else if(type==Query.PRODUCT_TYPE_RANGE) {
			try {
				Integer[] params = new Integer[3];
				String[] splitString = additionalInfo.split("_");
				if(splitString.length<2 || splitString.length>3) {
					System.err.println("Illegal parameters for ProductTypeRange: " + additionalInfo);
					System.exit(-1);
				}
				params[0] = Integer.parseInt(splitString[0]);
				params[1] = Integer.parseInt(splitString[1]);
				// a "lvleq"-suffix means that each level in the product type hierarchy is chosen equally
				if(splitString.length==3 && splitString[2].equals("lvleq"))
					params[2] = 1;
				else
					params[2] = 0;
				
				returnValue = params;
			} catch(NumberFormatException e) {
				System.err.println("Illegal parameters for ProductTypeRange: " + additionalInfo);
				System.exit(-1);
			}
		}
		return returnValue;
	}