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Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies
Note 6 - Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all cash on hand and in banks, and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less, to be cash equivalents. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had no bank balances in excess of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  We have not experienced any losses in such accounts, and believe we are not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.

Current financial market conditions have had the effect of restricting liquidity of cash management investments and have increased the risk of even the most liquid investments and the viability of some financial institutions.  We do not believe, however, that these conditions will materially affect our business or our ability to meet our obligations or pursue our business plans.

Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful receivables based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a monthly basis. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by identifying troubled accounts and by using historical experience applied to an aging of accounts. Trade receivables are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of trade receivables previously written off are recorded when collected.

Included in our $62,120 and $50,745 net accounts receivable for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, respectively, were (i) $65,910 and $57,655 for billed trade receivables, respectively; (ii) $250 and $1,380 of unbilled trade receivables less (iii) ($4,040) and ($8,290) for allowance for uncollectible accounts, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories consisting of electrical and computer parts are stated at the lower of cost or market determined using the first-in, first-out method.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the property, generally from three to five years.  Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred except when such repairs significantly add to the useful life or productive capacity of the asset, in which case the repairs are capitalized.
 
Patents and Intangibles

Patents represent initial legal costs incurred to apply for United States and international patents on the CodecSys technology, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful life of approximately 20 years.  We have filed several patents in the United States and foreign countries. As of March 31, 2014, the United States Patent and Trademark Office had approved six patents.  Additionally, eleven foreign countries had approved patent rights.  While we are unsure whether we can develop the technology in order to obtain the full benefits, the patents themselves hold value and could be sold to companies with more resources to complete the development. On-going legal expenses incurred for patent follow-up have been expensed from July 2005 forward.

Amortization expense recognized on all patents totaled $2,171 and $2,538 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our estimated future amortization expense, if all patents were issued at the beginning of 2014, would be $10,121 for each of the next five years.

Long-Lived Assets

We review our long-lived assets, including patents, annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset.  If such assets are considered to be impaired, then the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets.  Fair value is determined by using cash flow analyses and other market valuations. After our review at March 31, 2014 it was determined that no adjustment was required.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes in accordance with the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes prescribed by ASC Topic 740.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to the taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when evidence exists that there is an arrangement between us and our customers, delivery of equipment sold or service has occurred, the selling price to our customers is fixed and determinable with required documentation, and collectability is reasonably assured. We recognize as deferred revenue, payments made in advance by customers for services not yet provided.

When we enter into a multi-year contract with a customer to provide installation, network management, satellite transponder and help desk, or combination of these services, we recognize this revenue as services are performed and as equipment is sold. These agreements typically provide for additional fees, as needed, to be charged if on-site visits are required by the customer in order to ensure that each customer location is able to receive network communication. As these on-site visits are performed the associated revenue and cost are recognized in the period the work is completed. If we install, for an additional fee, new or replacement equipment to an immaterial number of new customer locations, and the equipment immediately becomes the property of the customer, the associated revenue and cost are recorded in the period in which the work is completed.

In instances where we have entered into license agreements with a third parties to use our technology within their product offering, we recognize any base or prepaid revenues over the term of the agreement and any per occurrence or periodic usage revenues in the period they are earned.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed when incurred.  We expensed $3,774 and $225,374 of research and development costs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 
Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments, which potentially subject us to concentration of credit risk, consist primarily of trade accounts receivable. In the normal course of business, we provide credit terms to our customers. Accordingly, we perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and maintain allowances for possible losses which, when realized, have been within the range of management's expectations.

For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, our largest customer individually constituted 48% and 91%, respectively of our total revenues.

Our largest customer for 2014 is not the same as in 2013. The largest customer included in our 2013 revenue initially signed a three-year agreement which has expired. We provided services for this customer through May 31, 2013, but provided no services for this customer in 2014 and have not been able to secure new customers to replace the lost revenues.