INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($)
|
12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
| Current [Abstract] |
|
|
| Federal |
$ 0
|
$ 0
|
| State |
(13,480)
|
(12,821)
|
| Total |
(13,480)
|
(12,821)
|
| Deferred [Abstract] |
|
|
| Federal |
0
|
0
|
| State |
0
|
0
|
| Total |
0
|
0
|
| Income tax net expense |
(13,480)
|
(12,821)
|
| Deferred income tax assets [Abstract] |
|
|
| Reserves and accruals |
1,053,863
|
1,578,374
|
| Prepaid expenses |
(43,774)
|
(50,966)
|
| Federal NOL carryforwards |
8,530,493
|
6,762,537
|
| State NOL carryforwards |
615,919
|
583,651
|
| Hong Kong NOL carryforwards |
995,566
|
995,566
|
| Federal benefit on state taxes under uncertain tax positions |
136,969
|
132,385
|
| Stock-based compensation |
342,294
|
481,917
|
| Research tax credit |
434,637
|
434,637
|
| Alternative minimum tax credit |
348,264
|
348,264
|
| Contributions carryforward |
35,100
|
33,582
|
| Depreciation |
(286,608)
|
(312,023)
|
| Accrued rent |
216,432
|
254,404
|
| Loss on impairment of long-lived assets |
53,042
|
52,226
|
| Valuation allowance |
(12,432,197)
|
(11,294,554)
|
| Total |
0
|
0
|
| Total deferred income tax assets, net |
$ 0
|
0
|
| Federal statutory income tax rate |
34.00%
|
|
| Effective income tax rate reconciliation [Abstract] |
|
|
| Anticipated income tax benefit at statutory rate |
$ 1,534,176
|
3,315,420
|
| State income tax benefit, net of federal tax effect |
(9,350)
|
35,814
|
| Capital loss carryforward expiration |
0
|
(9,227)
|
| Income tax effect of uncertain tax positions |
(8,896)
|
(8,461)
|
| Return to provision adjustments |
(23,070)
|
(82,341)
|
| Stock-based compensation |
(110,066)
|
(215,030)
|
| Other changes in deferred income tax assets, net |
(13,118)
|
(22,414)
|
| Increase in valuation allowance |
(1,383,156)
|
(3,026,582)
|
| Income tax net expense |
(13,480)
|
(12,821)
|
| Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |
|
|
| Federal income tax credits |
882,000
|
|
| Remaining balance of federal income tax expire between 2018 and 2021 |
533,000
|
|
| Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense [Abstract] |
|
|
| Gross liability for income taxes that will impact the company's effective tax rate |
532,000
|
|
| Direct reduction to associated deferred tax asset |
98,000
|
|
| Interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions |
13,000
|
13,000
|
| Interest and penalties included in the accrued income tax liability for uncertain tax positions |
165,000
|
165,000
|
| Activities related to gross liability for uncertain tax positions [Roll Forward] |
|
|
| Beginning balance |
519,284
|
506,463
|
| Increases related to prior year tax positions |
13,480
|
12,821
|
| Ending balance |
$ 532,764
|
519,284
|
| Earliest Tax Year [Member] |
|
|
| Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |
|
|
| Federal income tax credit expiration date |
Dec. 31, 2018
|
|
| Latest Tax Year [Member] |
|
|
| Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |
|
|
| Federal income tax credit expiration date |
Dec. 31, 2021
|
|
| Federal [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards |
$ 25,130,000
|
|
| Federal [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates |
Dec. 31, 2020
|
|
| Federal [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates |
Dec. 31, 2036
|
|
| North Carolina [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards |
$ 20,250,000
|
|
| North Carolina [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates |
Dec. 31, 2023
|
|
| North Carolina [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates |
Dec. 31, 2031
|
|
| Other State [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates |
Dec. 31, 2021
|
|
| Other State [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates |
Dec. 31, 2036
|
|
| Hong Kong Tax Code [Member] |
|
|
| Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |
|
|
| Operating loss carryforwards |
$ 6,030,000
|
|
| Valuation allowance |
$ (996,000)
|
$ (996,000)
|