code: private Integer getIntegerTimeInMinutes(Date date)
     {
        Integer result = null;
        if (date != null)
        {
           Calendar cal = DateHelper.popCalendar(date);
           int time = cal.get(Calendar.HOUR_OF_DAY) * 60;
           time += cal.get(Calendar.MINUTE);
           DateHelper.pushCalendar(cal);
           result = Integer.valueOf(time);         
        }
        return (result);
     }
docs: This internal method is used to convert from a Date instance to an
  integer representing the number of minutes past midnight.
  
  @param date date instance
  @return minutes past midnight as an integer