Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Consolidation - The financial statements include the accounts of Intelligent Systems Corporation and its majority owned and controlled U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiary companies after elimination of material inter-company accounts and transactions. |
Nature of Operations [Text Block] | Nature of Operations – We are engaged in two industries: Information Technology Products and Services and Industrial Products. Operations in the Information Technology Products and Services segment include development and sales of software licenses as well as providing financial transaction processing services, professional services and software maintenance and support by our CoreCard Software subsidiary. Operations in the Industrial Products segment include the manufacture and sale of bio-remediating parts washer systems by our ChemFree subsidiary. Our operations are explained in further detail in Note 15. Our affiliate companies (in which we have a minority ownership) are mainly involved in the information technology industry. |
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Use of Estimates - In preparing the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions also affect amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Areas where we use estimates and make assumptions are to determine our allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of our investments, depreciation and amortization expense, warranty expense, accrued expenses and deferred income taxes. |
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block] | Translation of Foreign Currencies - We consider that the respective local currencies are the functional currencies for our foreign operations. We translate assets and liabilities to U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates. We translate income and expense items at average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments are recorded as accumulated other comprehensive gain or loss as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Upon sale of an investment in a foreign operation, the currency translation adjustment component attributable to that operation is removed from accumulated other comprehensive loss and is reported as part of gain or loss on sale of discontinued operations. |
Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Accounts receivable are customer obligations due under normal trade terms. They are stated at the amount management expects to collect. We sell our products and services to distributors and corporate end users involved in a variety of industries, principally automotive parts and repair and financial services. We perform continuing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition and we do not require collateral. The amount of accounting loss for which we are at risk in these unsecured receivables is limited to their carrying value. |
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Senior management reviews accounts receivable on a regular basis to determine if any receivables will potentially be uncollectible. We include any accounts receivable balances that are estimated to be uncollectible in our overall allowance for doubtful accounts. After all attempts to collect a receivable have failed, the receivable is written off against the allowance. Based on the information available to us, we believe our allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2014 is adequate. However, actual write-offs might exceed the recorded allowance. Refer to Note 5. |
Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Marketable Securities – Our marketable securities, which are classified as available-for-sale, are stated at fair value, and primarily consist of investments in exchange traded funds comprised of dividend paying companies. The fair value of the marketable securities is $463,000 at December 31, 2014; an unrealized loss of $20,000 is included in other comprehensive income. |
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Inventories - We state the value of inventories at the lower of cost or market determined on a first-in first-out basis. Market is defined as net realizable value. The value of inventories, net of allowances of $95,000 and $102,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, is as follows: |
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(in thousands) | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
Raw materials | | $ | 879 | | | $ | 940 | |
Finished goods | | | 163 | | | | 166 | |
Total inventories | | $ | 1,042 | | | $ | 1,106 | |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Property and Equipment - Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the related asset. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to income. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. We continually evaluate whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful life of property and equipment may warrant revision, or that the remaining balance of these assets may not be recoverable. An asset is considered to be impaired when its carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. The amount of the impairment loss, if any, which is equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value, is charged to current operations. For each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, no such impairment existed. |
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Classification | | Useful life in years | | | | |
Machinery and equipment | | 3 | - | 5 | | | | |
Furniture and fixtures | | 5 | - | 7 | | | | |
Leasehold improvements | | 1 | - | 5 | | | | |
Building | | | 39 | | | | | |
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The cost of each major class of property and equipment at December 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows: |
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(in thousands) | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
Machinery and equipment | | $ | 4,268 | | | $ | 3,989 | |
Furniture and fixtures | | | 192 | | | | 194 | |
Leasehold improvements | | | 281 | | | | 281 | |
Building | | | 308 | | | | 308 | |
Subtotal | | | 5,049 | | | | 4,772 | |
Accumulated depreciation | | | (3,980 | ) | | | (3,627 | ) |
Property and equipment, net | | $ | 1,069 | | | $ | 1,145 | |
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Depreciation expense was $353,000 and $386,000 in 2014 and 2013, respectively. These expenses are included in general and administrative expenses, except with respect to our Industrial Products segment, where the component of depreciation expense that relates primarily to production activities and products leased to customers is included in cost of revenue. |
Lease, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Leased Equipment - In the Industrial Products segment, certain equipment is leased to customers. The cost, carrying value and accumulated depreciation associated with the leased equipment at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows: |
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(in thousands) | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
Cost of leased equipment | | $ | 514 | | | $ | 473 | |
Accumulated depreciation | | | (355 | ) | | | (290 | ) |
Carrying value of leased equipment | | $ | 159 | | | $ | 183 | |
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There is no contingent rental income under the leases. We recognized lease revenue of $617,000 and $1,566,000 in the year end December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the amount of future non-cancellable lease income was $425,000 and $125,000, respectively. The leased equipment assets are included in machinery and equipment on the company’s balance sheet at December 31, 2014 and 2013. |
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Investments - We account for investments under the equity method, whereby we record our proportional share of the investee’s net income or net loss as an adjustment to the carrying value of the investment, for (i) entities in which we have a 20 to 50 percent ownership interest and over which we exercise significant influence, but do not have control or (ii) entities that are organized as partnerships or limited liability companies. We account for investments of less than 20 percent in non-marketable equity securities of corporations at the lower of cost or market. Our policy with respect to cost method investments is to record an impairment charge when we believe an investment has experienced a decline in value that is other than temporary. At least quarterly, we review our investments to determine any impairment in their carrying value and we write-down any impaired asset at quarter-end to our best estimate of its current realizable value. Any such charges could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations and are generally not predictable in advance. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized $145,000 on the sale of one of our cost method investments and we also took a net impairment charge of $17,000 to reduce the carrying value of another cost method investment to zero, management’s estimate of realizable value. In 2013, we recognized $1,000 income related to the sale of a previously written-off investment. The aggregate value of investments accounted for by the equity method was $913,000 and $914,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the aggregate value of investments accounted for by the cost method was $692,000 and $736,000, respectively. |
Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Patents - Patents are carried at cost net of related amortization and are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of 10 years. We continually evaluate whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful lives of the patents may warrant revision, or that the remaining balance of these assets may not be recoverable. An asset is considered to be impaired when its carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. The amount of the impairment loss, if any, which is equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value, is charged to current operations. For each of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, no such impairment existed. |
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Patents, net, at December 31, 2014 and 2013 consisted of the following: |
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(in thousands) | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
Patents | | $ | 491 | | | $ | 491 | |
Accumulated amortization | | | (472 | ) | | | (427 | ) |
Patents, net | | $ | 19 | | | $ | 64 | |
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In 2014, we recorded $45,000 of patent amortization expense. As of December 31, 2014, annual amortization expense for patents for the following years is expected to be: |
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(in thousands) | | | | | | | | |
2015 | | $ | 4 | | | | | |
2016 | | | 4 | | | | | |
2017 | | | 4 | | | | | |
2018 | | | 4 | | | | | |
2019 | | | 3 | | | | | |
Total amortization expense | | $ | 19 | | | | | |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain other financial instruments (such as short-term borrowings, accrued expenses, and other current assets and liabilities) included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets approximates their fair value principally due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. |
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Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and trade accounts. Our available cash is held in accounts managed by third-party financial institutions. Cash may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, insurance limits. While we monitor cash balances on a regular basis and adjust the balances as appropriate, these balances could be impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail. To date, we have experienced no loss or lack of access to our cash; however, we can provide no assurances that access to our cash will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets. |
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A concentration of credit risk may exist with respect to trade receivables, as a substantial portion of our customers are concentrated in the following industries. |
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ChemFree: Industrial services companies, automotive parts distributors and equipment rental depots |
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CoreCard: Financial services companies |
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We perform ongoing credit evaluations of customers worldwide and do not require collateral from our customers. Historically, we have not experienced significant losses related to receivables from individual customers or groups of customers in any particular industry or geographic area. |
Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Fair Value Measurements - In determining fair value, we use quoted market prices in active markets. Generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) establishes a fair value measurement framework, provides a single definition of fair value, and requires expanded disclosure summarizing fair value measurements. GAAP emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. |
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GAAP establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable input be used when available. Observable inputs are based on data obtained from sources independent of the company that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the company’s assumptions about the estimates market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. |
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The hierarchy is measured in three levels based on the reliability of inputs: |
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• Level 1 |
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Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the company has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not applied to Level 1 instruments. |
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• Level 2 |
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Valuations based on quoted prices in less active, dealer or broker markets. Fair values are primarily obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities. |
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• Level 3 |
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Valuations derived from other valuation methodologies, including pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and not based on market, exchange, dealer, or broker-traded transactions. Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections that are not observable in the market and significant professional judgment is needed in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities. |
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In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. |
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Our available-for-sale investments are classified within level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. |
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The fair value of equity method and cost method investments has not been determined as it is impracticable to do so due to the fact that the investee companies are relatively small, early stage private companies for which there is no comparable valuation data available without unreasonable time and expense. |
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Revenue Recognition - Product revenue consists of fees from software licenses and sales or leases of industrial products. Service revenue related to our software products consists of fees for processing services, consulting, training, customization, reimbursable expenses, maintenance and customer support. |
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We recognize revenue for industrial products when products are shipped, at which time title transfers to the customer and there are no remaining future obligations. We do not provide for estimated sales returns allowances because ChemFree’s well-established policy rarely authorizes such transactions. As an alternative to selling our parts washers, we may lease our equipment to customers under operating leases. For leased equipment, we recognize revenue monthly at the contracted monthly rate during the term of the lease. We also recognize royalty income based on the quantity of ChemFree’s proprietary fluid that is blended for the European market pursuant to an arrangement with ChemFree’s master European distributor. We classify shipping and handling amounts billed to customers in net revenue and the costs of the shipping and handling to customers as a component of cost of revenue. |
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Our software license arrangements generally fall into one of the following four categories: |
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● | an initial contract with the customer to license certain software modules, to provide services to get the customer live on the software (such as training and customization) and to provide post contract support (“PCS”) for a specified period of time thereafter (typically three months), | | | | | | | |
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● | purchase of additional licenses for new modules or for tier upgrades for a higher volume of licensed accounts after the initial contract, | | | | | | | |
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● | other optional standalone contracts, usually performed after the customer is live on the software, for services such as new interfaces or custom features requested by the customer, additional training and problem resolution not covered in annual maintenance contracts, and | | | | | | | |
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● | contracts for certain licensed software products that involve an initial fee plus recurring monthly fees during the contract life. | | | | | | | |
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We review each contract to determine if multiple elements exist. As such, only arrangements under the initial contract described above contain multiple elements. Our revenue recognition policies for each of the situations described above are discussed below. |
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Presently, our initial software contracts do not meet the criteria for separate accounting because the software usually requires significant modification or customization that is essential to its functionality. At present, we use the completed contract method to account for our contracts as we do not have an adequate basis on which to prepare reliable estimates of percentage-of-completion for these contracts. Moreover, there are inherent hazards with software implementations, such as changes in customer requirements or software defects, that make estimates unreliable. |
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Accordingly, software revenue related to the license and the specified service elements (except for PCS) in the initial contract are recognized at the completion of the contract, when (i) there are no material uncertainties regarding customer acceptance, (ii) cancellation provisions, if any, have expired and (iii) there are no significant obligations remaining. We account for the PCS element contained in the initial contract based on vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value, which are annual renewal fees for such services, and PCS is recognized ratably on a straight-line basis over the period specified in the contract. Upon renewal of the PCS contract by the customer, we recognize revenues ratably on a straight-line basis over the period specified in the PCS contract. All of our software customers purchase software maintenance and support contracts and renew such contracts annually. |
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Purchases of additional licenses for tier upgrades or additional modules are recognized as license revenue in the period in which the purchase is made. |
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Services provided under standalone contracts that are optional to the customer and are outside of the scope of the initial contract are single element services contracts. These standalone services contracts are not essential to the functionality of the software contained in the initial contract and generally do not include acceptance clauses or refund rights as may be included in the initial software contracts, as described above. Revenues from these services contracts, which are generally performed within a relatively short period of time, are recognized when the services are complete. |
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For contracts for licensed software which include an initial fee plus recurring monthly fees for software usage, maintenance and support, we recognize the total fees ratably on a straight line basis over the estimated life of the contract as product revenue since there is no Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (VSOE) for the maintenance and support services. |
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For processing services which include an initial fee plus recurring monthly fees for services, we recognize the initial fees ratably on a straight line basis over the estimated life of the contract as services revenue. |
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Revenue is recorded net of applicable sales tax. |
Revenue Recognition, Deferred Revenue [Policy Text Block] | Deferred Revenue - Deferred revenue consists of advance payments by software customers for annual or quarterly PCS; advance payments from customers for software licenses and professional services not yet delivered; initial payments for processing services on multi-year contracts and payments by ChemFree customers for advance billings related to leased equipment or consumables. We do not anticipate any loss under these arrangements. Deferred revenue is classified as long-term until such time that it becomes likely that the services or products will be provided within 12 months of the balance sheet date. |
Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Cost of Revenue - Cost of revenue for ChemFree products includes direct material, direct labor, and production overhead. For software contracts and processing services contracts, we capitalize the contract specific direct costs, which are included in other current assets and other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and recognize the costs when the associated revenue is recognized. Cost of revenue for services includes direct cost of services rendered, including reimbursed expenses, pass-through third party costs, and data center and compliance costs for processing services. |
Research, Development, and Computer Software, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Software Development Expense - Research and development costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Contract specific software development costs are capitalized and recognized when the related contract revenue is recognized |
Standard Product Warranty, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Warranty Costs - We accrue the estimated costs associated with our industrial product warranties as an expense in the period the related sales are recognized. The warranty accrual is included in accrued expenses at December 31, 2014 and 2013. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the warranty accrual was $122,000 and $141,000, respectively. |
Legal Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Legal Expense - Legal expenses are recorded as a component of general and administrative expense in the period in which such expenses are incurred. Legal expenses in 2014 and 2013 related to the legal settlement described in Note 8 were reclassified and are included in the legal settlement expense line item. |
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Research and Development - Research and development costs consist principally of compensation and benefits paid to certain company employees and certain other direct costs. All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. |
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] | Stock Based Compensation - We record compensation cost related to unvested stock-based awards by recognizing the unamortized grant date fair value on a straight line basis over the vesting periods of each award. We have estimated forfeiture rates based on our historical experience. Stock option compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 has been recognized as a component of general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. We recorded $49,000 and $82,000 of stock-based compensation expense in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. |
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In the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, a total of 16,000 and 17,000 options, respectively, were granted pursuant to the 2011 Non-employee Directors Stock Option Plan. The fair value of each option granted in 2014 and 2013 has been estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: |
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Year ended December 31, | | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
Risk free interest rate | | | 2.5 | % | | | 2.5 | % |
Expected life of option in years | | | 10 | | | | 10 | |
Expected dividend yield rate | | | 0 | % | | | 0 | % |
Expected volatility | | | 73 | % | | | 74 | % |
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Under these assumptions, the weighted average fair value of options granted in 2014 and 2013 was $1.06 and $1.05 per share, respectively. The fair value of the grants is being amortized over the vesting period for the options. All of the company’s stock-based compensation expense relates to stock options. The total remaining unrecognized compensation cost at December 31, 2014 related to unvested options amounted to $17,000 and is expected to be recognized over 2015 and 2016. |
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Income Taxes - We utilize the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. As such, deferred tax assets and liabilities are established to recognize the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of the existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and for net tax operating loss carryforwards. |
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We follow the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board accounting guidance on accounting for uncertain tax positions. Accordingly, assets and liabilities are recognized for a tax position, based solely on its technical merits that is believed to be more likely than not to be fully sustainable upon examination. Accrued interest relating to uncertain tax positions is recorded as a component of interest expense and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded as a component of general and administrative expense. |
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Comprehensive loss represents net income (loss) adjusted for the results of certain stockholders’ equity changes not reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. These items are accumulated over time as “accumulated other comprehensive loss” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and consist primarily of net earnings/loss and foreign currency translation adjustments associated with foreign operations that use the local currency as their functional currency and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities. |
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Reclassifications - Certain prior year numbers have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. |
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] | Recent Accounting Pronouncements - In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” The core principle of the new accounting guidance is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new accounting guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized and requires enhanced disclosures about revenue. This update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods, and can be adopted either retrospectively or as a cumulative effect adjustment at the date of adoption. We are evaluating the effect adopting this new accounting guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements. |