1. A modular operating topology element (MOTE) within a miniaturized package, comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); an internal hardware bus connected to said central processing unit; a non-volatile RAM connected to said hardware bus and accessible by said CPU; a non-volatile ROM connected to said hardware bus and accessible by said CPU; a battery-backed real time clock-calendar unit connected to said hardware bus for providing time and date information to said CPU; an interrupt control module connected to said hardware bus and operating as an interrupt monitor for prompting various operating states of said CPU; and a host bus I/O module for connecting said internal hardware bus to a prevailing standard host external bus; wherein the RAM space is managed by said CPU as workspace memory and as a virtual passive mass storage as seen by the host external bus under interrupt-driven multiprogramming within the MOTE.