diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index a387c1a..cf88dc0 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -86,13 +86,6 @@ static void coroutine_fn bdrv_co_do_rw(void *opaque);
 static int coroutine_fn bdrv_co_do_write_zeroes(BlockDriverState *bs,
     int64_t sector_num, int nb_sectors);
 
-static bool bdrv_exceed_bps_limits(BlockDriverState *bs, int nb_sectors,
-        bool is_write, double elapsed_time, uint64_t *wait);
-static bool bdrv_exceed_iops_limits(BlockDriverState *bs, bool is_write,
-        double elapsed_time, uint64_t *wait);
-static bool bdrv_exceed_io_limits(BlockDriverState *bs, int nb_sectors,
-        bool is_write, int64_t *wait);
-
 static QTAILQ_HEAD(, BlockDriverState) bdrv_states =
     QTAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(bdrv_states);
 
@@ -123,69 +116,101 @@ int is_windows_drive(const char *filename)
 #endif
 
 /* throttling disk I/O limits */
-void bdrv_io_limits_disable(BlockDriverState *bs)
+void bdrv_set_io_limits(BlockDriverState *bs,
+                        ThrottleConfig *cfg)
 {
-    bs->io_limits_enabled = false;
+    int i;
 
-    do {} while (qemu_co_enter_next(&bs->throttled_reqs));
+    throttle_config(&bs->throttle_state, cfg);
 
-    if (bs->block_timer) {
-        timer_del(bs->block_timer);
-        timer_free(bs->block_timer);
-        bs->block_timer = NULL;
+    for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+        qemu_co_enter_next(&bs->throttled_reqs[i]);
     }
+}
+
+/* this function drain all the throttled IOs */
+static bool bdrv_start_throttled_reqs(BlockDriverState *bs)
+{
+    bool drained = false;
+    bool enabled = bs->io_limits_enabled;
+    int i;
+
+    bs->io_limits_enabled = false;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+        while (qemu_co_enter_next(&bs->throttled_reqs[i])) {
+            drained = true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    bs->io_limits_enabled = enabled;
 
-    bs->slice_start = 0;
-    bs->slice_end   = 0;
+    return drained;
 }
 
-static void bdrv_block_timer(void *opaque)
+void bdrv_io_limits_disable(BlockDriverState *bs)
 {
-    BlockDriverState *bs = opaque;
+    bs->io_limits_enabled = false;
 
-    qemu_co_enter_next(&bs->throttled_reqs);
+    bdrv_start_throttled_reqs(bs);
+
+    throttle_destroy(&bs->throttle_state);
 }
 
-void bdrv_io_limits_enable(BlockDriverState *bs)
+static void bdrv_throttle_read_timer_cb(void *opaque)
 {
-    bs->block_timer = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL, bdrv_block_timer, bs);
-    bs->io_limits_enabled = true;
+    BlockDriverState *bs = opaque;
+    qemu_co_enter_next(&bs->throttled_reqs[0]);
 }
 
-bool bdrv_io_limits_enabled(BlockDriverState *bs)
+static void bdrv_throttle_write_timer_cb(void *opaque)
 {
-    BlockIOLimit *io_limits = &bs->io_limits;
-    return io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ]
-         || io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE]
-         || io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL]
-         || io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ]
-         || io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE]
-         || io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL];
+    BlockDriverState *bs = opaque;
+    qemu_co_enter_next(&bs->throttled_reqs[1]);
 }
 
+/* should be called before bdrv_set_io_limits if a limit is set */
+void bdrv_io_limits_enable(BlockDriverState *bs)
+{
+    assert(!bs->io_limits_enabled);
+    throttle_init(&bs->throttle_state,
+                  QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+                  bdrv_throttle_read_timer_cb,
+                  bdrv_throttle_write_timer_cb,
+                  bs);
+    bs->io_limits_enabled = true;
+}
+
+/* This function makes an IO wait if needed
+ *
+ * @nb_sectors: the number of sectors of the IO
+ * @is_write:   is the IO a write
+ */
 static void bdrv_io_limits_intercept(BlockDriverState *bs,
-                                     bool is_write, int nb_sectors)
+                                     int nb_sectors,
+                                     bool is_write)
 {
-    int64_t wait_time = -1;
+    /* does this io must wait */
+    bool must_wait = throttle_schedule_timer(&bs->throttle_state, is_write);
 
-    if (!qemu_co_queue_empty(&bs->throttled_reqs)) {
-        qemu_co_queue_wait(&bs->throttled_reqs);
+    /* if must wait or any request of this type throttled queue the IO */
+    if (must_wait ||
+        !qemu_co_queue_empty(&bs->throttled_reqs[is_write])) {
+        qemu_co_queue_wait(&bs->throttled_reqs[is_write]);
     }
 
-    /* In fact, we hope to keep each request's timing, in FIFO mode. The next
-     * throttled requests will not be dequeued until the current request is
-     * allowed to be serviced. So if the current request still exceeds the
-     * limits, it will be inserted to the head. All requests followed it will
-     * be still in throttled_reqs queue.
-     */
+    /* the IO will be executed, do the accounting */
+    throttle_account(&bs->throttle_state,
+                     is_write,
+                     nb_sectors * BDRV_SECTOR_SIZE);
 
-    while (bdrv_exceed_io_limits(bs, nb_sectors, is_write, &wait_time)) {
-        timer_mod(bs->block_timer,
-                       wait_time + qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL));
-        qemu_co_queue_wait_insert_head(&bs->throttled_reqs);
+    /* if the next request must wait -> do nothing */
+    if (throttle_schedule_timer(&bs->throttle_state, is_write)) {
+        return;
     }
 
-    qemu_co_queue_next(&bs->throttled_reqs);
+    /* else queue next request for execution */
+    qemu_co_queue_next(&bs->throttled_reqs[is_write]);
 }
 
 /* check if the path starts with "<protocol>:" */
@@ -305,7 +330,8 @@ BlockDriverState *bdrv_new(const char *device_name)
     bdrv_iostatus_disable(bs);
     notifier_list_init(&bs->close_notifiers);
     notifier_with_return_list_init(&bs->before_write_notifiers);
-    qemu_co_queue_init(&bs->throttled_reqs);
+    qemu_co_queue_init(&bs->throttled_reqs[0]);
+    qemu_co_queue_init(&bs->throttled_reqs[1]);
 
     return bs;
 }
@@ -1113,11 +1139,6 @@ int bdrv_open(BlockDriverState *bs, const char *filename, QDict *options,
         bdrv_dev_change_media_cb(bs, true);
     }
 
-    /* throttling disk I/O limits */
-    if (bs->io_limits_enabled) {
-        bdrv_io_limits_enable(bs);
-    }
-
     return 0;
 
 unlink_and_fail:
@@ -1436,7 +1457,10 @@ static bool bdrv_requests_pending(BlockDriverState *bs)
     if (!QLIST_EMPTY(&bs->tracked_requests)) {
         return true;
     }
-    if (!qemu_co_queue_empty(&bs->throttled_reqs)) {
+    if (!qemu_co_queue_empty(&bs->throttled_reqs[0])) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    if (!qemu_co_queue_empty(&bs->throttled_reqs[1])) {
         return true;
     }
     if (bs->file && bdrv_requests_pending(bs->file)) {
@@ -1482,7 +1506,7 @@ void bdrv_drain_all(void)
          * a busy wait.
          */
         QTAILQ_FOREACH(bs, &bdrv_states, list) {
-            while (qemu_co_enter_next(&bs->throttled_reqs)) {
+            if (bdrv_start_throttled_reqs(bs)) {
                 busy = true;
             }
         }
@@ -1524,13 +1548,12 @@ static void bdrv_move_feature_fields(BlockDriverState *bs_dest,
 
     bs_dest->enable_write_cache = bs_src->enable_write_cache;
 
-    /* i/o timing parameters */
-    bs_dest->slice_start        = bs_src->slice_start;
-    bs_dest->slice_end          = bs_src->slice_end;
-    bs_dest->slice_submitted    = bs_src->slice_submitted;
-    bs_dest->io_limits          = bs_src->io_limits;
-    bs_dest->throttled_reqs     = bs_src->throttled_reqs;
-    bs_dest->block_timer        = bs_src->block_timer;
+    /* i/o throttled req */
+    memcpy(&bs_dest->throttle_state,
+           &bs_src->throttle_state,
+           sizeof(ThrottleState));
+    bs_dest->throttled_reqs[0]  = bs_src->throttled_reqs[0];
+    bs_dest->throttled_reqs[1]  = bs_src->throttled_reqs[1];
     bs_dest->io_limits_enabled  = bs_src->io_limits_enabled;
 
     /* r/w error */
@@ -1577,7 +1600,7 @@ void bdrv_swap(BlockDriverState *bs_new, BlockDriverState *bs_old)
     assert(bs_new->dev == NULL);
     assert(bs_new->in_use == 0);
     assert(bs_new->io_limits_enabled == false);
-    assert(bs_new->block_timer == NULL);
+    assert(!throttle_have_timer(&bs_new->throttle_state));
 
     tmp = *bs_new;
     *bs_new = *bs_old;
@@ -1596,7 +1619,7 @@ void bdrv_swap(BlockDriverState *bs_new, BlockDriverState *bs_old)
     assert(bs_new->job == NULL);
     assert(bs_new->in_use == 0);
     assert(bs_new->io_limits_enabled == false);
-    assert(bs_new->block_timer == NULL);
+    assert(!throttle_have_timer(&bs_new->throttle_state));
 
     bdrv_rebind(bs_new);
     bdrv_rebind(bs_old);
@@ -2539,11 +2562,6 @@ static int coroutine_fn bdrv_co_do_readv(BlockDriverState *bs,
         return -EIO;
     }
 
-    /* throttling disk read I/O */
-    if (bs->io_limits_enabled) {
-        bdrv_io_limits_intercept(bs, false, nb_sectors);
-    }
-
     if (bs->copy_on_read) {
         flags |= BDRV_REQ_COPY_ON_READ;
     }
@@ -2555,6 +2573,11 @@ static int coroutine_fn bdrv_co_do_readv(BlockDriverState *bs,
         wait_for_overlapping_requests(bs, sector_num, nb_sectors);
     }
 
+    /* throttling disk I/O */
+    if (bs->io_limits_enabled) {
+        bdrv_io_limits_intercept(bs, nb_sectors, false);
+    }
+
     tracked_request_begin(&req, bs, sector_num, nb_sectors, false);
 
     if (flags & BDRV_REQ_COPY_ON_READ) {
@@ -2680,15 +2703,15 @@ static int coroutine_fn bdrv_co_do_writev(BlockDriverState *bs,
         return -EIO;
     }
 
-    /* throttling disk write I/O */
-    if (bs->io_limits_enabled) {
-        bdrv_io_limits_intercept(bs, true, nb_sectors);
-    }
-
     if (bs->copy_on_read_in_flight) {
         wait_for_overlapping_requests(bs, sector_num, nb_sectors);
     }
 
+    /* throttling disk I/O */
+    if (bs->io_limits_enabled) {
+        bdrv_io_limits_intercept(bs, nb_sectors, true);
+    }
+
     tracked_request_begin(&req, bs, sector_num, nb_sectors, true);
 
     ret = notifier_with_return_list_notify(&bs->before_write_notifiers, &req);
@@ -2806,14 +2829,6 @@ void bdrv_get_geometry(BlockDriverState *bs, uint64_t *nb_sectors_ptr)
     *nb_sectors_ptr = length;
 }
 
-/* throttling disk io limits */
-void bdrv_set_io_limits(BlockDriverState *bs,
-                        BlockIOLimit *io_limits)
-{
-    bs->io_limits = *io_limits;
-    bs->io_limits_enabled = bdrv_io_limits_enabled(bs);
-}
-
 void bdrv_set_on_error(BlockDriverState *bs, BlockdevOnError on_read_error,
                        BlockdevOnError on_write_error)
 {
@@ -3623,169 +3638,6 @@ void bdrv_aio_cancel(BlockDriverAIOCB *acb)
     acb->aiocb_info->cancel(acb);
 }
 
-/* block I/O throttling */
-static bool bdrv_exceed_bps_limits(BlockDriverState *bs, int nb_sectors,
-                 bool is_write, double elapsed_time, uint64_t *wait)
-{
-    uint64_t bps_limit = 0;
-    uint64_t extension;
-    double   bytes_limit, bytes_base, bytes_res;
-    double   slice_time, wait_time;
-
-    if (bs->io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL]) {
-        bps_limit = bs->io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL];
-    } else if (bs->io_limits.bps[is_write]) {
-        bps_limit = bs->io_limits.bps[is_write];
-    } else {
-        if (wait) {
-            *wait = 0;
-        }
-
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    slice_time = bs->slice_end - bs->slice_start;
-    slice_time /= (NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND);
-    bytes_limit = bps_limit * slice_time;
-    bytes_base  = bs->slice_submitted.bytes[is_write];
-    if (bs->io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL]) {
-        bytes_base += bs->slice_submitted.bytes[!is_write];
-    }
-
-    /* bytes_base: the bytes of data which have been read/written; and
-     *             it is obtained from the history statistic info.
-     * bytes_res: the remaining bytes of data which need to be read/written.
-     * (bytes_base + bytes_res) / bps_limit: used to calcuate
-     *             the total time for completing reading/writting all data.
-     */
-    bytes_res   = (unsigned) nb_sectors * BDRV_SECTOR_SIZE;
-
-    if (bytes_base + bytes_res <= bytes_limit) {
-        if (wait) {
-            *wait = 0;
-        }
-
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    /* Calc approx time to dispatch */
-    wait_time = (bytes_base + bytes_res) / bps_limit - elapsed_time;
-
-    /* When the I/O rate at runtime exceeds the limits,
-     * bs->slice_end need to be extended in order that the current statistic
-     * info can be kept until the timer fire, so it is increased and tuned
-     * based on the result of experiment.
-     */
-    extension = wait_time * NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND;
-    extension = DIV_ROUND_UP(extension, BLOCK_IO_SLICE_TIME) *
-                BLOCK_IO_SLICE_TIME;
-    bs->slice_end += extension;
-    if (wait) {
-        *wait = wait_time * NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND;
-    }
-
-    return true;
-}
-
-static bool bdrv_exceed_iops_limits(BlockDriverState *bs, bool is_write,
-                             double elapsed_time, uint64_t *wait)
-{
-    uint64_t iops_limit = 0;
-    double   ios_limit, ios_base;
-    double   slice_time, wait_time;
-
-    if (bs->io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL]) {
-        iops_limit = bs->io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL];
-    } else if (bs->io_limits.iops[is_write]) {
-        iops_limit = bs->io_limits.iops[is_write];
-    } else {
-        if (wait) {
-            *wait = 0;
-        }
-
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    slice_time = bs->slice_end - bs->slice_start;
-    slice_time /= (NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND);
-    ios_limit  = iops_limit * slice_time;
-    ios_base   = bs->slice_submitted.ios[is_write];
-    if (bs->io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL]) {
-        ios_base += bs->slice_submitted.ios[!is_write];
-    }
-
-    if (ios_base + 1 <= ios_limit) {
-        if (wait) {
-            *wait = 0;
-        }
-
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    /* Calc approx time to dispatch, in seconds */
-    wait_time = (ios_base + 1) / iops_limit;
-    if (wait_time > elapsed_time) {
-        wait_time = wait_time - elapsed_time;
-    } else {
-        wait_time = 0;
-    }
-
-    /* Exceeded current slice, extend it by another slice time */
-    bs->slice_end += BLOCK_IO_SLICE_TIME;
-    if (wait) {
-        *wait = wait_time * NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND;
-    }
-
-    return true;
-}
-
-static bool bdrv_exceed_io_limits(BlockDriverState *bs, int nb_sectors,
-                           bool is_write, int64_t *wait)
-{
-    int64_t  now, max_wait;
-    uint64_t bps_wait = 0, iops_wait = 0;
-    double   elapsed_time;
-    int      bps_ret, iops_ret;
-
-    now = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
-    if (now > bs->slice_end) {
-        bs->slice_start = now;
-        bs->slice_end   = now + BLOCK_IO_SLICE_TIME;
-        memset(&bs->slice_submitted, 0, sizeof(bs->slice_submitted));
-    }
-
-    elapsed_time  = now - bs->slice_start;
-    elapsed_time  /= (NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND);
-
-    bps_ret  = bdrv_exceed_bps_limits(bs, nb_sectors,
-                                      is_write, elapsed_time, &bps_wait);
-    iops_ret = bdrv_exceed_iops_limits(bs, is_write,
-                                      elapsed_time, &iops_wait);
-    if (bps_ret || iops_ret) {
-        max_wait = bps_wait > iops_wait ? bps_wait : iops_wait;
-        if (wait) {
-            *wait = max_wait;
-        }
-
-        now = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
-        if (bs->slice_end < now + max_wait) {
-            bs->slice_end = now + max_wait;
-        }
-
-        return true;
-    }
-
-    if (wait) {
-        *wait = 0;
-    }
-
-    bs->slice_submitted.bytes[is_write] += (int64_t)nb_sectors *
-                                           BDRV_SECTOR_SIZE;
-    bs->slice_submitted.ios[is_write]++;
-
-    return false;
-}
-
 /**************************************************************/
 /* async block device emulation */
 
diff --git a/block/qapi.c b/block/qapi.c
index a4bc411..cac3919 100644
--- a/block/qapi.c
+++ b/block/qapi.c
@@ -223,18 +223,15 @@ void bdrv_query_info(BlockDriverState *bs,
         info->inserted->backing_file_depth = bdrv_get_backing_file_depth(bs);
 
         if (bs->io_limits_enabled) {
-            info->inserted->bps =
-                           bs->io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL];
-            info->inserted->bps_rd =
-                           bs->io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ];
-            info->inserted->bps_wr =
-                           bs->io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE];
-            info->inserted->iops =
-                           bs->io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL];
-            info->inserted->iops_rd =
-                           bs->io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ];
-            info->inserted->iops_wr =
-                           bs->io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE];
+            ThrottleConfig cfg;
+            throttle_get_config(&bs->throttle_state, &cfg);
+            info->inserted->bps     = cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_TOTAL].avg;
+            info->inserted->bps_rd  = cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_READ].avg;
+            info->inserted->bps_wr  = cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_WRITE].avg;
+
+            info->inserted->iops    = cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_TOTAL].avg;
+            info->inserted->iops_rd = cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_READ].avg;
+            info->inserted->iops_wr = cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_WRITE].avg;
         }
 
         bs0 = bs;
diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 121520e..66fce9f 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -281,32 +281,16 @@ static int parse_block_error_action(const char *buf, bool is_read)
     }
 }
 
-static bool do_check_io_limits(BlockIOLimit *io_limits, Error **errp)
+static bool check_throttle_config(ThrottleConfig *cfg, Error **errp)
 {
-    bool bps_flag;
-    bool iops_flag;
-
-    assert(io_limits);
-
-    bps_flag  = (io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL] != 0)
-                 && ((io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ] != 0)
-                 || (io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE] != 0));
-    iops_flag = (io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL] != 0)
-                 && ((io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ] != 0)
-                 || (io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE] != 0));
-    if (bps_flag || iops_flag) {
-        error_setg(errp, "bps(iops) and bps_rd/bps_wr(iops_rd/iops_wr) "
+    if (throttle_conflicting(cfg)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "bps/iops/max total values and read/write values"
                          "cannot be used at the same time");
         return false;
     }
 
-    if (io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL] < 0 ||
-        io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE] < 0 ||
-        io_limits->bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ] < 0 ||
-        io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL] < 0 ||
-        io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE] < 0 ||
-        io_limits->iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ] < 0) {
-        error_setg(errp, "bps and iops values must be 0 or greater");
+    if (!throttle_is_valid(cfg)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "bps/iops/maxs values must be 0 or greater");
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -331,7 +315,7 @@ static DriveInfo *blockdev_init(QemuOpts *all_opts,
     int on_read_error, on_write_error;
     const char *devaddr;
     DriveInfo *dinfo;
-    BlockIOLimit io_limits;
+    ThrottleConfig cfg;
     int snapshot = 0;
     bool copy_on_read;
     int ret;
@@ -497,20 +481,31 @@ static DriveInfo *blockdev_init(QemuOpts *all_opts,
     }
 
     /* disk I/O throttling */
-    io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL]  =
+    memset(&cfg, 0, sizeof(cfg));
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_TOTAL].avg =
         qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "throttling.bps-total", 0);
-    io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ]   =
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_READ].avg  =
         qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "throttling.bps-read", 0);
-    io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE]  =
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_WRITE].avg =
         qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "throttling.bps-write", 0);
-    io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL] =
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_TOTAL].avg =
         qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "throttling.iops-total", 0);
-    io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ]  =
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_READ].avg =
         qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "throttling.iops-read", 0);
-    io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE] =
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_WRITE].avg =
         qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "throttling.iops-write", 0);
 
-    if (!do_check_io_limits(&io_limits, &error)) {
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_TOTAL].max = 0;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_READ].max  = 0;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_WRITE].max = 0;
+
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_TOTAL].max = 0;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_READ].max  = 0;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_WRITE].max = 0;
+
+    cfg.op_size = 0;
+
+    if (!check_throttle_config(&cfg, &error)) {
         error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(error));
         error_free(error);
         return NULL;
@@ -637,7 +632,10 @@ static DriveInfo *blockdev_init(QemuOpts *all_opts,
     bdrv_set_on_error(dinfo->bdrv, on_read_error, on_write_error);
 
     /* disk I/O throttling */
-    bdrv_set_io_limits(dinfo->bdrv, &io_limits);
+    if (throttle_enabled(&cfg)) {
+        bdrv_io_limits_enable(dinfo->bdrv);
+        bdrv_set_io_limits(dinfo->bdrv, &cfg);
+    }
 
     switch(type) {
     case IF_IDE:
@@ -1271,7 +1269,7 @@ void qmp_block_set_io_throttle(const char *device, int64_t bps, int64_t bps_rd,
                                int64_t bps_wr, int64_t iops, int64_t iops_rd,
                                int64_t iops_wr, Error **errp)
 {
-    BlockIOLimit io_limits;
+    ThrottleConfig cfg;
     BlockDriverState *bs;
 
     bs = bdrv_find(device);
@@ -1280,27 +1278,37 @@ void qmp_block_set_io_throttle(const char *device, int64_t bps, int64_t bps_rd,
         return;
     }
 
-    io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL] = bps;
-    io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ]  = bps_rd;
-    io_limits.bps[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE] = bps_wr;
-    io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL]= iops;
-    io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ] = iops_rd;
-    io_limits.iops[BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE]= iops_wr;
+    memset(&cfg, 0, sizeof(cfg));
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_TOTAL].avg = bps;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_READ].avg  = bps_rd;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_WRITE].avg = bps_wr;
+
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_TOTAL].avg = iops;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_READ].avg  = iops_rd;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_WRITE].avg = iops_wr;
+
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_TOTAL].max = 0;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_READ].max  = 0;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_BPS_WRITE].max = 0;
+
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_TOTAL].max = 0;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_READ].max  = 0;
+    cfg.buckets[THROTTLE_OPS_WRITE].max = 0;
 
-    if (!do_check_io_limits(&io_limits, errp)) {
+    cfg.op_size = 0;
+
+    if (!check_throttle_config(&cfg, errp)) {
         return;
     }
 
-    bs->io_limits = io_limits;
-
-    if (!bs->io_limits_enabled && bdrv_io_limits_enabled(bs)) {
+    if (!bs->io_limits_enabled && throttle_enabled(&cfg)) {
         bdrv_io_limits_enable(bs);
-    } else if (bs->io_limits_enabled && !bdrv_io_limits_enabled(bs)) {
+    } else if (bs->io_limits_enabled && !throttle_enabled(&cfg)) {
         bdrv_io_limits_disable(bs);
-    } else {
-        if (bs->block_timer) {
-            timer_mod(bs->block_timer, qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL));
-        }
+    }
+
+    if (bs->io_limits_enabled) {
+        bdrv_set_io_limits(bs, &cfg);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/include/block/block.h b/include/block/block.h
index 742fce5..b16d579 100644
--- a/include/block/block.h
+++ b/include/block/block.h
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ void bdrv_info_stats(Monitor *mon, QObject **ret_data);
 /* disk I/O throttling */
 void bdrv_io_limits_enable(BlockDriverState *bs);
 void bdrv_io_limits_disable(BlockDriverState *bs);
-bool bdrv_io_limits_enabled(BlockDriverState *bs);
 
 void bdrv_init(void);
 void bdrv_init_with_whitelist(void);
diff --git a/include/block/block_int.h b/include/block/block_int.h
index 8012e25..c3c9c61 100644
--- a/include/block/block_int.h
+++ b/include/block/block_int.h
@@ -35,18 +35,12 @@
 #include "qemu/hbitmap.h"
 #include "block/snapshot.h"
 #include "qemu/main-loop.h"
+#include "qemu/throttle.h"
 
 #define BLOCK_FLAG_ENCRYPT          1
 #define BLOCK_FLAG_COMPAT6          4
 #define BLOCK_FLAG_LAZY_REFCOUNTS   8
 
-#define BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_READ     0
-#define BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_WRITE    1
-#define BLOCK_IO_LIMIT_TOTAL    2
-
-#define BLOCK_IO_SLICE_TIME     100000000
-#define NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND  1000000000.0
-
 #define BLOCK_OPT_SIZE              "size"
 #define BLOCK_OPT_ENCRYPT           "encryption"
 #define BLOCK_OPT_COMPAT6           "compat6"
@@ -70,17 +64,6 @@ typedef struct BdrvTrackedRequest {
     CoQueue wait_queue; /* coroutines blocked on this request */
 } BdrvTrackedRequest;
 
-
-typedef struct BlockIOLimit {
-    int64_t bps[3];
-    int64_t iops[3];
-} BlockIOLimit;
-
-typedef struct BlockIOBaseValue {
-    uint64_t bytes[2];
-    uint64_t ios[2];
-} BlockIOBaseValue;
-
 struct BlockDriver {
     const char *format_name;
     int instance_size;
@@ -264,13 +247,9 @@ struct BlockDriverState {
     /* number of in-flight copy-on-read requests */
     unsigned int copy_on_read_in_flight;
 
-    /* the time for latest disk I/O */
-    int64_t slice_start;
-    int64_t slice_end;
-    BlockIOLimit io_limits;
-    BlockIOBaseValue slice_submitted;
-    CoQueue      throttled_reqs;
-    QEMUTimer    *block_timer;
+    /* I/O throttling */
+    ThrottleState throttle_state;
+    CoQueue      throttled_reqs[2];
     bool         io_limits_enabled;
 
     /* I/O stats (display with "info blockstats"). */
@@ -312,7 +291,8 @@ struct BlockDriverState {
 int get_tmp_filename(char *filename, int size);
 
 void bdrv_set_io_limits(BlockDriverState *bs,
-                        BlockIOLimit *io_limits);
+                        ThrottleConfig *cfg);
+
 
 /**
  * bdrv_add_before_write_notifier:
