| Fact Group (Combination of Network and Hypercube) | |
| Network: | 301000 - Disclosure - Note C. Inventory, By Component (http://www.abc.com/role/InventoryByComponent) |
| Hypercube: | Inventory, by Component [Table] (abc:InventoryByComponentTable) |
| brm:ConceptMeasure | brm:ReportingEntityMeasure | brm:CalendarTimeMeasure | us-gaap:CreationDateAxis | dei:LegalEntityAxis | FactValue | brm:Units | brm:Rounding |
| us-gaap:OtherInventorySupplies | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2010-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 1000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:OtherInventorySupplies | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2009-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 1000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:InventoryRawMaterials | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2010-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 1000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:InventoryRawMaterials | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2009-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 1000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:InventoryNet | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2010-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 4000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:InventoryNet | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2009-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 4000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:InventoryFinishedGoods | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2010-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 1000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:InventoryFinishedGoods | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2009-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 1000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:InventoryWorkInProcess | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2010-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 1000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |
| us-gaap:InventoryWorkInProcess | 0000000001 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 2009-12-31 | abc:AsReportedFebruary122011Member | dei:EntityDomain | 1000000 | iso4217:USD | -3 |