Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d)

BUSINESS AND FUNDING (Detail)

BUSINESS AND FUNDING (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
BUSINESS AND FUNDING (Detail) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 23, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012
Impaired Assets to be Disposed of by Method Other than Sale, Carrying Value of Asset	$ 2,144,000			$ 2,144,000
Reletting Fees Related To Future Rentals Of Unused Facilities				186,000
Stock Purchase Agreement, Commitment Fee			700,000
Stock purchase Agreement, Stock Issued During The Period, Shares (in Shares)			2,500,000
Stock Purchase Agreement Stock Issued During The Period Value			500,000
Stock Purchase Agreement, Regular Purchase,Threshold Shares (in Shares)	200,000			200,000
Stock Purchase Agreement, Regular Purchase,Threshold Value	200,000			200,000
Stock Purchase Agreement,Volume Weighted Average Price Purchase,Threshold Percentage of Volume Traded	30.00%			30.00%
Stock Purchase Agreement, Common Stock, Threshold Price Per Share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.15			$ 0.15
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs				42,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities				(1,802,737)	(1,549,867)
Payments to Suppliers and Employees				(1,805,659)	(1,553,792)
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties	2,000			2,000
Proceeds from Interest Received				792
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities				500,421	698,106
Proceeds from Sale of Short-term Investments				500,000	1,699,706
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments				1,135
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment				714	1,600
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities				2,236,375	208,450
Proceeds from Convertible Debt				1,765,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock				458,325
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised (in Dollars)				13,050	208,450
Cash, Period Increase (Decrease)				434,000
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	1,274,000			1,274,000		840,000
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense (in Dollars)	871,000	631,000		1,690,000	1,344,000
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	(129,654,762)			(129,654,762)		(125,083,322)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	(1,446,130)			(1,446,130)		(1,194,056)
License and Services Revenue		246,670			693,340
Share Subscription Agreement Shares Issued (in Shares)				20,000,000
GDR Purchase Agreement GDR Issued (in Shares)				1,495,845
Maximum Period Of Loan Agreement				7 years
Proceeds from License Fees Received	0	247,000		0	693,000
Deferred Revenue, Current	1,187,320			1,187,320		1,187,320
Employees [Member]
Stock or Unit Option Plan Expense	0	119,000		0	525,000
Employees And Directors [Member]
Stock or Unit Option Plan Expense	555,000	30,000		1,028,000	111,000
Stock Purchase Agreement [Member] \| Commitment Fee [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services (in Shares)			3,500,000
Stock Purchase Agreement,Volume Weighted Average Price Purchase,Purchase Price Selection Per Share, Percentage of Volume Weighted Average Price				95.00%
Stock Purchase Agreement,Volume Weighted Average Price Purchase Requirement, Price Per Share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.50			$ 0.50
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs				42,000
Stock Purchase Agreement [Member]
Stock Purchase Agreement Authorized Amount			10,000,000
AUO License Agreement [Member]
License and Services Revenue				10,000,000
Foreign Withholding Tax				20.00%
Licenses Revenue				2,400,000
Initial Payment By AUO [Member]
License and Services Revenue				3,000,000
Payable By AUO Upon Completion Of Certain Conditions [Member]
License and Services Revenue				7,000,000
Videocon License Agreement [Member]
License and Services Revenue				11,000,000
Initial Payment By Videocon [Member]
License and Services Revenue				3,200,000
Payable By Videocon In Future [Member]
License and Services Revenue				7,800,000
Copytele [Member]
GDR Purchase Agreement Aggregate Purchase Price				16,200,000
Security Owned and Pledged as Collateral, Fair Value	5,000,000			5,000,000
Videocon [Member]
GDR Purchase Agreement Aggregate Purchase Price				$ 16,200,000