Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (12,778)	$ (21,089)	$ 37,550
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7,145	7,818	5,912
Asset impairment charges	17,890	4,896
Goodwill impairment charges	5,650	13,810
Gains on sales of securities and equity method investment losses, net	(380)	(299)	(103)
Amortization of premium on held-to-maturity securities	93	128	139
Impairment loss on cost method investments		7,943
Stock-based compensation	4,252	5,875	6,853
Purchased in-process research and development			3,200
Deferred tax	(5,892)	446	8,229
(Excess) reduction of tax benefit from stock-based compensation plans	(8)	496	366
Loss on disposals of property and equipment	164	3	291
Other			(250)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	1,293	2,333	3,269
Inventories	(1,103)	284	(679)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,949	1,135	(624)
Income taxes	1,168	(4,121)	2,656
Deferred revenue	37	2,632	(36,050)
Prepaids and other	475	(282)	562
Net cash provided by operating activities	19,955	22,008	31,321
Investing Activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(3,459)	(9,679)	(29,364)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(50,926)	(34,919)	(33,568)
Sales and maturities of available-for-sale securities	50,364	23,986	55,263
Maturities of held-to-maturity securities	1,000	2,000
Investment in other strategic assets		(500)	(2,500)
Purchase of licenses and patents		(210)	(631)
Payments related to a prior business acquisition	(5,650)	(750)	(8,585)
Other investing activities			(187)
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,671)	(20,072)	(19,572)
Financing Activities:
Excess (reduction of) tax benefit from stock-based compensation plans	8	(496)	(366)
Issuance of common stock	574	892	679
Repurchase of common stock		(2,032)	(14,998)
Purchase of common stock to pay employee taxes	(40)	(545)	(568)
Repayment of notes payable			(236)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	542	(2,181)	(15,489)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	11,826	(245)	(3,740)
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Beginning of year	11,391	11,636	15,376
End of year	23,217	11,391	11,636
Supplemental Information:
Cash paid for income taxes	1,010	4,105	11,285
Noncash transaction - acquisition of property, plant and equipment on account	209	565	1,247
Noncash transaction - acquisition of intangibles on account			$ 210