Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014
Schedule of quarterly financial data
Revenues	$ 122	$ 219	$ 112	$ 1,703	$ 2,769	$ 2,867	$ 2,781	$ 4,823	$ 3,303	$ 913	$ 453	$ 127	$ 2,156	$ 13,240	$ 4,796
Direct cost of revenues	50	88	13	782	1,282	1,315	1,338	2,108	1,751	425	283	28	933	6,043	2,487
Research and development	407	505	374										1,286
Selling, general and administrative	3,538	1,528	2,346	1,612	2,870	1,353	1,605	1,103	725	665	1,042	569	9,024	6,931	3,001
Other income	14	13	400	10	322	9	9	32	13	338	4	53	437	372	408
Provision for income tax benefits (income taxes)	(15)	25		(6)	(2,660)	801	(100)	(755)	2,393	(40)			(4)	2,714	(2,353)
Net (loss) income	(3,874)	(1,864)	(2,221)	(687)	(3,721)	1,009	(253)	889	3,233	121	(868)	(417)	(8,646)	(2,076)	2,069
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	80	19	195	55	529	(211)	(24)	(183)	(195)	(4)	141	26	(349)	(111)	32
Net (loss) income attributable to SPCI	$ (3,794)	$ (1,845)	$ (2,026)	$ (632)	$ (3,192)	$ 798	$ (277)	$ 706	$ 3,038	$ 117	$ (727)	$ (391)	$ (8,297)	$ (1,965)	$ 2,037
Income (loss) per share - basic	$ (0.32)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.28)	$ 0.07	$ (0.02)	$ 0.06	$ 0.28	$ 0.01	$ (0.07)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.70)	$ (0.17)	$ 0.19
Income (loss) per share - diluted	$ (0.32)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.28)	$ 0.07	$ (0.02)	$ 0.06	$ 0.27	$ 0.01	$ (0.07)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.70)	$ (0.17)	$ 0.18