CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 36	$ (53)	$ 97,506	$ (112,118)	$ (14,629)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008	35,750,680	1,182,875
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to employee stock purchase plan	0	0	30	0	30
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	41,182
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to exercise of options	0	0	143	0	143
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to exercise of options (in shares)	167,607
Non-employee stock-based compensation	0	0	9	0	9
Issuance of common stock pursuant to conversion of convertible debt	4	0	2,936	0	2,940
Issuance of common stock pursuant to conversion of convertible debt (in shares)	4,199,997
Employee stock-based compensation	0	0	1,880	0	1,880
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	(3,987)	(3,987)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	40	(53)	102,504	(116,105)	(13,614)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009	40,159,466	1,182,875
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to employee stock purchase plan	0	0	42	0	42
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	139,769
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to exercise of options	0	0	3	0	3
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to exercise of options (in shares)	5,000
Non-employee stock-based compensation	0	0	31	0	31
Employee stock-based compensation	0	0	1,237	0	1,237
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	4,449	4,449
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	40	(53)	103,817	(111,656)	(7,852)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	40,304,235	1,182,875
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to employee stock purchase plan	0	0	67	0	67
Issuance of common stock to employees pursuant to employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	220,612
Issuance of common stock under stock option and equity plan, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	2	0	(126)	0	(124)
Issuance of common stock under stock option and equity plan, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)	1,399,545
Non-employee stock-based compensation	0	0	206	0	206
Employee stock-based compensation	0	0	1,195	0	1,195
Net income (loss)	0	0		(6,429)	(6,429)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 42	$ (53)	$ 105,159	$ (118,085)	$ (12,937)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	41,924,392	1,182,875

AVISTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP 10-K