Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	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, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Schedule of quarterly financial data
Revenues	$ 167	$ 167	$ 165	$ 159	$ 122	$ 219	$ 112	$ 1,703	$ 2,769	$ 2,867	$ 2,781	$ 4,823	$ 658	$ 2,156	$ 13,240
Direct cost of revenues	16	32	26	41	50	88	13	782	1,282	1,315	1,338	2,108	115	933	6,043
Research and development	149	144	129	10	407	505	374						582	1,286
Selling, general and administrative	8,945	3,996	3,596	4,235	3,538	1,528	2,346	1,612	2,870	1,353	1,605	1,103	20,772	9,024	6,931
Civil penalty - FCC consent decree			15,000										(15,000)
Stockholder settlement			(7,200)										7,200
Interest expense	(493)	(2,195)											(2,688)
Other income	10	7	6	29	14	13	400	10	322	9	9	32	(2,636)	437	372
Income tax benefits provision for income taxes	3	3	0	7	15	(25)	0	6	2,660	(801)	100	755	13	(4)	2,714
Net loss	(9,429)	(6,196)	(25,780)	(4,255)	(3,874)	(1,864)	(2,221)	(687)	(3,721)	1,009	(253)	889	(45,660)	(8,646)	(2,076)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	331	203	355	124	80	19	195	55	529	(211)	(24)	(183)	(1,013)	(349)	(111)
Net loss attributable to SPCI	$ (9,098)	$ (5,993)	$ (25,425)	$ (4,131)	$ (3,794)	$ (1,845)	$ (2,026)	$ (632)	$ (3,192)	$ 798	$ (277)	$ 706	$ (44,647)	$ (8,297)	$ (1,965)
Loss per share - basic and diluted	$ (0.74)	$ (0.49)	$ (2.10)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.32)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.28)	$ 0.07	$ (0.02)	$ 0.06	$ (3.67)	$ (0.70)	$ (0.17)