A method of managing a portable communication device, comprising: reading, by a master processor, battery information of a battery of the portable communication device; determining a current budget, based on the battery information; programming a comparator trip threshold for a single programmable comparator and programming a finite state machine for a plurality of discrete operating states, based on the battery information; detecting a transmit event; enabling a maximum current limit operating state of the portable communication device in response to the transmit event; setting a timer for a predetermined short time delay; monitoring the single comparator to determine if tripped during the predetermined short time delay; monitoring the timer to determine when the short time delay has expired; changing to a moderate current limit operating state in response to the predetermined short time delay expiring or the comparator being tripped; restarting the timer and monitoring the comparator determining if the transmit event has concluded; and transitioning to a normal operating state in response to the transmit event concluding, wherein the enabling a maximum current limit operating state comprises: asserting a transmit radio frequency power amplifier, Tx RFPA, current limit; asserting a transmit audio power amplifier, Tx audio PA, current limit; and asserting a slave processor interrupt; and wherein the changing to a moderate current limit operating state comprises: deasserting the Tx RFPA current limit; keeping the Tx audio PA current limited; and keeping the slave processor interrupt asserted. reading, by a master processor, battery information of a battery of the portable communication device; determining a current budget, based on the battery information; programming a comparator trip threshold for a single programmable comparator and programming a finite state machine for a plurality of discrete operating states, based on the battery information; detecting a transmit event; enabling a maximum current limit operating state of the portable communication device in response to the transmit event; setting a timer for a predetermined short time delay; monitoring the single comparator to determine if tripped during the predetermined short time delay; monitoring the timer to determine when the short time delay has expired; changing to a moderate current limit operating state in response to the predetermined short time delay expiring or the comparator being tripped; restarting the timer and monitoring the comparator determining if the transmit event has concluded; and transitioning to a normal operating state in response to the transmit event concluding, wherein the enabling a maximum current limit operating state comprises: asserting a transmit radio frequency power amplifier, Tx RFPA, current limit; asserting a transmit audio power amplifier, Tx audio PA, current limit; and asserting a slave processor interrupt; and asserting a transmit radio frequency power amplifier, Tx RFPA, current limit; asserting a transmit audio power amplifier, Tx audio PA, current limit; and asserting a slave processor interrupt; and wherein the changing to a moderate current limit operating state comprises: deasserting the Tx RFPA current limit; keeping the Tx audio PA current limited; and keeping the slave processor interrupt asserted. deasserting the Tx RFPA current limit; keeping the Tx audio PA current limited; and keeping the slave processor interrupt asserted. <EOS>