Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ 521,000	$ (791,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	177,000	182,000
Amortization	86,000	329,000
Stock-based compensation	332,000	269,000
Decrease in allowance for doubtful accounts	4,000	(51,000)
Increase in inventory obsolescence reserve	(63,000)	70,000
Gain on disposal of equipment	(3,000)	1,000
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(1,017,000)	1,289,000
Inventories	17,000	(432,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	27,000	(315,000)
Accounts payable	(584,000)	(435,000)
Employee compensation	(232,000)	(114,000)
Deferred income	1,950,000	32,000
Warranty reserve	55,000	(47,000)
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses	22,000	235,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,292,000	222,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales of investments		721,000
Purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets	(883,000)	(730,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(883,000)	(9,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(1,805,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	129,000	50,000
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	485,000	97,000
Repurchase of common stock		(66,000)
Repurchase of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock awards	(52,000)	(46,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,243,000)	35,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(834,000)	248,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,665,000	9,665,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	8,831,000	8,709,000
Cash paid for taxes	30,000	22,000
Supplemental non-cash items:
Current and non-current liabilities issued for leasehold improvements	210,000
Common stock issued for long-term liability		42,000
Accrued dividends	$ 51,000