public static int getIntegerParameter(String key) throws CorruptConfigurationEntryException {
		key = key.toLowerCase();
		if(parameters.containsKey(key)) {
			try {
				return Integer.parseInt(parameters.get(key));
			} catch(NumberFormatException e) {
				throw new CorruptConfigurationEntryException("The entry '" + key + "' in the configuration file cannot be converted to a integer value."); 
			}
		} else {
			throw new CorruptConfigurationEntryException("Missing entry in the configuration file: An entry for the key '" 
					+ key + "' is missing.");
		}
	}