Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (1,000)	$ (152,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	234,000	265,000
Amortization	437,000	420,000
Stock-based compensation	411,000	346,000
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts	2,000	(4,000)
Decrease in inventory obsolescence reserve	(58,000)	(168,000)
Loss on disposal of equipment	3,000	76,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(816,000)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	96,000	(733,000)
Inventories	(94,000)	115,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(33,000)	35,000
Accounts payable	72,000	71,000
Employee compensation	268,000	(634,000)
Deferred income	222,000	165,000
Warranty reserve	(50,000)	(34,000)
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses	221,000	(187,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	914,000	(419,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales of investments	721,000	2,715,000
Net proceeds from sale of discontinued operations	665,000
Purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets	(1,131,000)	(599,000)
Net cash provided by investing activities	255,000	2,116,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	50,000	20,000
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	97,000	48,000
Repurchase of common stock	(66,000)	(198,000)
Repurchase of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock awards	(46,000)	(49,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	35,000	(179,000)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,204,000	1,518,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,461,000	6,943,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	9,665,000	8,461,000
Cash paid for taxes	21,000	24,000
Supplemental non-cash items:
Share value received for stock option exercises		89,000
Share value issued for long-term liability	48,000
Other current and non-current assets from sale of discontinued operations	$ 235,000