Revenue recognition

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2011

Revenue recognition [Abstract]

Revenue recognition

3.

Revenue recognition. Most of our revenues are recognized upon shipment, provided that persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the sales price is fixed or determinable, collectibility is reasonably assured, and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer. Our post-shipment deliverables typically are installation, installation supervision, training and spare parts. Installation, installation supervision and training completed in a short period of time, at an insignificant cost and utilizing skills not unique to us are regarded as inconsequential, and revenue is recognized at the time product is delivered. Otherwise, revenue for undelivered items is deferred and included within accrued liabilities in the accompanying balance sheet. Revenues deferred in 2011 and 2010 were not material.

In October 2009, the FASB issued an accounting standard update on multiple deliverable arrangements. This accounting standard update establishes a relative selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable based on vendor specific objective evidence (VSOE) if available, third-party evidence (TPE) if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available, or best estimated selling price (BESP) if neither vendor-specific objective evidence nor third-party evidence is available. Our multiple deliverable arrangements include installation, installation supervision, training, and spare parts, which tend to be completed in a short period of time, at an insignificant cost, and utilizing skills not unique to us, therefore, are typically regarded as inconsequential or perfunctory. As such, the requirements of this standard did not significantly change our units of accounting or how we allocate arrangement consideration to various units of accounting. The adoption of this standard had no material impact on our financial position or results of operations as of April 30, 2011.