Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (131,000)	$ (658,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	110,000	126,000
Amortization	53,000	217,000
Stock-based compensation	234,000	183,000
Decrease in allowance for doubtful accounts	(13,000)	(64,000)
Increase in inventory obsolescence reserve	9,000	57,000
Gain on disposal of equipment	(3,000)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(625,000)	1,945,000
Inventories	(215,000)	(703,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	76,000	(89,000)
Accounts payable	(226,000)	(395,000)
Employee compensation	42,000	(79,000)
Deferred income	1,058,000	(98,000)
Warranty reserve	44,000	(40,000)
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses	98,000	182,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	511,000	584,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales of investments		241,000
Purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets	(598,000)	(505,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(598,000)	(264,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(1,800,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	68,000	11,000
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	345,000	40,000
Repurchase of common stock		(10,000)
Repurchase of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock awards	(23,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,410,000)	41,000
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(1,497,000)	361,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	9,665,000	9,665,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	8,168,000	8,822,000
Cash paid for taxes	18,000	3,000
Supplemental non-cash items:
Current and non-current liabilities issued for leasehold improvements	210,000
Accrued dividends	$ 56,000