Intangibles and Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Portion of acquisition price attributable to intangible assets	$ 151,083,000	$ 0	$ 0
Amortization period of intangible assets	through 2046
Amortization expense on intangibles assets	341,800,000	285,300,000	247,800,000
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment	0	0	0
Patents
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Assigned useful life	10
All Technology Companies | Patents
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Payments to acquire intangible asset portfolio	450,000,000
EMC | Patents
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Payments to acquire intangible asset portfolio	112,500,000
VMware Roche Transaction
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Payments to purchase ground lease	225,000,000
Portion of acquisition price attributable to property, plant and equipment, net	73,900,000
VMware Roche Transaction | Leasehold Interest
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Portion of acquisition price attributable to intangible assets	$ 151,083,000