code: public Object getConvertedValue(FacesContext context,
                                      UIComponent  component,
                                      Object       submittedValue)
          throws ConverterException {
          if ((context == null) || (component == null)) {
              throw new NullPointerException();
          }
          return submittedValue;
      }
docs: <p>Attempt to convert previously stored state information into an
  object of the type required for this component (optionally using the
  registered {@link javax.faces.convert.Converter} for this component,
  if there is one).  If conversion is successful, the new value
  should be returned from this method;  if not, a
  {@link ConverterException} should be thrown.</p>
  
  @param context {@link FacesContext} for the request we are processing
  @param component {@link UIComponent} to be decoded.
  @param submittedValue a value stored on the component during
  <code>decode</code>.
  
  @throws ConverterException if the submitted value
  cannot be converted successfully.
  @throws NullPointerException if <code>context</code>
  or <code>component</code> is <code>null</code>