Quarterly report pursuant to sections 13 or 15(d)

INVESTMENTS (Detail)

v2.4.0.6
INVESTMENTS (Detail) (USD $)
 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2013
Oct. 31, 2012
Short-term Investments   $ 500,000
Warrant [Member] | ZQX [Member]
    
Stock Issued During The Period In Private Placement (in Shares) 500,000  
Investment In Videocon [Member]
    
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis   16,200,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments 10,818,000  
Cost Method Investments 5,382,000  
ZQX [Member] | First Half [Member]
    
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price (in Dollars per share) $ 0.37  
ZQX [Member] | Second Half [Member]
    
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price (in Dollars per share) $ 0.555  
ZQX [Member]
    
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent 19.50%  
Stock Issued During The Period In Private Placement (in Shares) 800,000  
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Own-share Lending Arrangement, Issuance Costs 91,000  
Reinvested Certificates of Deposit Maturity Less Than 90 Days [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]
    
Short-term Investments   250,000
Deposited In Company's Money Market [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]
    
Short-term Investments   250,000
Certificates of Deposit [Member]
    
Short-term Investments   $ 500,000