SEGMENT REPORTING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Reconciliation of Segment Income (Loss) to Consolidated Net Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total consolidated revenues for reportable segments									$ 19,980		$ 17,857		$ 17,539
Other operational segment revenues									1,776		1,562		1,389
Total consolidated revenues	5,825	4,982	5,233	5,716	4,796	4,713	5,727	4,183	21,756		19,419		18,928
Net income (loss) before income taxes for reportable segments									(21,236)		(14,029)		(4,467)
Other operating segment net income (loss) before income taxes									(1,266)		(62)		298
Total segment net income (loss) before income taxes									(22,502)		(14,091)		(4,169)
Unallocated net cost of corporate headquarters									(5,016)	[1]	(5,114)	[1]	(3,891)	[1]
Unallocated net cost of DSIT and OmniMetrix headquarters									(53)		(14)		0
Unallocated OmniMetrix segment costs									(3,262)		(1,472)		0
Gain on sale of HangXing									0		0		492
Consolidated net loss before tax	(5,715)	(12,551)	(7,449)	(5,118)	(6,150)	(5,698)	(4,473)	(4,370)	(30,833)		(20,691)		(7,568)
Stock compensation in unallocated expenses									$ 926		$ 532		$ 458

[1] Includes $458, $532, and $926 of stock compensation expense for the years ending December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.