core, eth: clean up bloom filtering, add some tests

13 files changed, 1206 insertions, 817 deletions

diff --git a/core/bloombits/doc.go b/core/bloombits/doc.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3d159e74f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/bloombits/doc.go
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+// Copyright 2017 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+// Package bloombits implements bloom filtering on batches of data.
+package bloombits
diff --git a/core/bloombits/fetcher_test.go b/core/bloombits/fetcher_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 9c229cf8d..000000000
--- a/core/bloombits/fetcher_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,101 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2017 The go-ethereum Authors
-// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
-//
-// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
-// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-// (at your option) any later version.
-//
-// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
-// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
-//
-// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
-// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-package bloombits
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"encoding/binary"
-	"math/rand"
-	"sync"
-	"sync/atomic"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-)
-
-const testFetcherReqCount = 5000
-
-func fetcherTestVector(b uint, s uint64) []byte {
-	r := make([]byte, 10)
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(r[0:2], uint16(b))
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(r[2:10], s)
-	return r
-}
-
-func TestFetcher(t *testing.T) {
-	testFetcher(t, 1)
-}
-
-func TestFetcherMultipleReaders(t *testing.T) {
-	testFetcher(t, 10)
-}
-
-func testFetcher(t *testing.T, cnt int) {
-	f := &fetcher{
-		requestMap: make(map[uint64]fetchRequest),
-	}
-	distCh := make(chan distRequest, channelCap)
-	stop := make(chan struct{})
-	var reqCount uint32
-
-	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
-		go func() {
-			for {
-				req, ok := <-distCh
-				if !ok {
-					return
-				}
-				time.Sleep(time.Duration(rand.Intn(100000)))
-				atomic.AddUint32(&reqCount, 1)
-				f.deliver([]uint64{req.sectionIndex}, [][]byte{fetcherTestVector(req.bloomIndex, req.sectionIndex)})
-			}
-		}()
-	}
-
-	var wg, wg2 sync.WaitGroup
-	for cc := 0; cc < cnt; cc++ {
-		wg.Add(1)
-		in := make(chan uint64, channelCap)
-		out := f.fetch(in, distCh, stop, &wg2)
-
-		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 10 * time.Duration(cc))
-		go func() {
-			for i := uint64(0); i < testFetcherReqCount; i++ {
-				in <- i
-			}
-		}()
-
-		go func() {
-			for i := uint64(0); i < testFetcherReqCount; i++ {
-				bv := <-out
-				if !bytes.Equal(bv, fetcherTestVector(0, i)) {
-					if len(bv) != 10 {
-						t.Errorf("Vector #%d length is %d, expected 10", i, len(bv))
-					} else {
-						j := binary.BigEndian.Uint64(bv[2:10])
-						t.Errorf("Expected vector #%d, fetched #%d", i, j)
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			wg.Done()
-		}()
-	}
-
-	wg.Wait()
-	close(stop)
-	if reqCount != testFetcherReqCount {
-		t.Errorf("Request count mismatch: expected %v, got %v", testFetcherReqCount, reqCount)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/core/bloombits/generator.go b/core/bloombits/generator.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..04a7f5146
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/bloombits/generator.go
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+// Copyright 2017 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package bloombits
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+)
+
+// errSectionOutOfBounds is returned if the user tried to add more bloom filters
+// to the batch than available space, or if tries to retrieve above the capacity,
+var errSectionOutOfBounds = errors.New("section out of bounds")
+
+// Generator takes a number of bloom filters and generates the rotated bloom bits
+// to be used for batched filtering.
+type Generator struct {
+	blooms   [types.BloomBitLength][]byte // Rotated blooms for per-bit matching
+	sections uint                         // Number of sections to batch together
+	nextBit  uint                         // Next bit to set when adding a bloom
+}
+
+// NewGenerator creates a rotated bloom generator that can iteratively fill a
+// batched bloom filter's bits.
+func NewGenerator(sections uint) (*Generator, error) {
+	if sections%8 != 0 {
+		return nil, errors.New("section count not multiple of 8")
+	}
+	b := &Generator{sections: sections}
+	for i := 0; i < types.BloomBitLength; i++ {
+		b.blooms[i] = make([]byte, sections/8)
+	}
+	return b, nil
+}
+
+// AddBloom takes a single bloom filter and sets the corresponding bit column
+// in memory accordingly.
+func (b *Generator) AddBloom(bloom types.Bloom) error {
+	// Make sure we're not adding more bloom filters than our capacity
+	if b.nextBit >= b.sections {
+		return errSectionOutOfBounds
+	}
+	// Rotate the bloom and insert into our collection
+	byteMask := b.nextBit / 8
+	bitMask := byte(1) << byte(7-b.nextBit%8)
+
+	for i := 0; i < types.BloomBitLength; i++ {
+		bloomByteMask := types.BloomByteLength - 1 - i/8
+		bloomBitMask := byte(1) << byte(i%8)
+
+		if (bloom[bloomByteMask] & bloomBitMask) != 0 {
+			b.blooms[i][byteMask] |= bitMask
+		}
+	}
+	b.nextBit++
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Bitset returns the bit vector belonging to the given bit index after all
+// blooms have been added.
+func (b *Generator) Bitset(idx uint) ([]byte, error) {
+	if b.nextBit != b.sections {
+		return nil, errors.New("bloom not fully generated yet")
+	}
+	if idx >= b.sections {
+		return nil, errSectionOutOfBounds
+	}
+	return b.blooms[idx], nil
+}
diff --git a/core/bloombits/generator_test.go b/core/bloombits/generator_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f4aa9551c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/bloombits/generator_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+// Copyright 2017 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package bloombits
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"math/rand"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+)
+
+// Tests that batched bloom bits are correctly rotated from the input bloom
+// filters.
+func TestGenerator(t *testing.T) {
+	// Generate the input and the rotated output
+	var input, output [types.BloomBitLength][types.BloomByteLength]byte
+
+	for i := 0; i < types.BloomBitLength; i++ {
+		for j := 0; j < types.BloomBitLength; j++ {
+			bit := byte(rand.Int() % 2)
+
+			input[i][j/8] |= bit << byte(7-j%8)
+			output[types.BloomBitLength-1-j][i/8] |= bit << byte(7-i%8)
+		}
+	}
+	// Crunch the input through the generator and verify the result
+	gen, err := NewGenerator(types.BloomBitLength)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to create bloombit generator: %v", err)
+	}
+	for i, bloom := range input {
+		if err := gen.AddBloom(bloom); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("bloom %d: failed to add: %v", i, err)
+		}
+	}
+	for i, want := range output {
+		have, err := gen.Bitset(uint(i))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("output %d: failed to retrieve bits: %v", i, err)
+		}
+		if !bytes.Equal(have, want[:]) {
+			t.Errorf("output %d: bit vector mismatch have %x, want %x", i, have, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/bloombits/matcher.go b/core/bloombits/matcher.go
index 5a7df6b1c..e365fd6d0 100644
--- a/core/bloombits/matcher.go
+++ b/core/bloombits/matcher.go
@@ -13,327 +13,350 @@
 //
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
 // along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
 package bloombits
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+	"math"
+	"sort"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/bitutil"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 )
 
-const channelCap = 100
+// bloomIndexes represents the bit indexes inside the bloom filter that belong
+// to some key.
+type bloomIndexes [3]uint
 
-// fetcher handles bit vector retrieval pipelines for a single bit index
-type fetcher struct {
-	bloomIndex  uint
-	requestMap  map[uint64]fetchRequest
-	requestLock sync.RWMutex
-}
+// calcBloomIndexes returns the bloom filter bit indexes belonging to the given key.
+func calcBloomIndexes(b []byte) bloomIndexes {
+	b = crypto.Keccak256(b)
 
-// fetchRequest represents the state of a bit vector requested from a fetcher. When a distRequest has been sent to the distributor but
-// the data has not been delivered yet, queued is true. When delivered, it is stored in the data field and the delivered channel is closed.
-type fetchRequest struct {
-	data      []byte
-	queued    bool
-	delivered chan struct{}
+	var idxs bloomIndexes
+	for i := 0; i < len(idxs); i++ {
+		idxs[i] = (uint(b[2*i])<<8)&2047 + uint(b[2*i+1])
+	}
+	return idxs
 }
 
-// distRequest is sent by the fetcher to the distributor which groups and prioritizes these requests.
-type distRequest struct {
-	bloomIndex   uint
-	sectionIndex uint64
+// partialMatches with a non-nil vector represents a section in which some sub-
+// matchers have already found potential matches. Subsequent sub-matchers will
+// binary AND their matches with this vector. If vector is nil, it represents a
+// section to be processed by the first sub-matcher.
+type partialMatches struct {
+	section uint64
+	bitset  []byte
 }
 
-// fetch creates a retrieval pipeline, receiving section indexes from sectionCh and returning the results
-// in the same order through the returned channel. Multiple fetch instances of the same fetcher are allowed
-// to run in parallel, in case the same bit index appears multiple times in the filter structure. Each section
-// is requested only once, requests are sent to the request distributor (part of Matcher) through distCh.
-func (f *fetcher) fetch(sectionCh chan uint64, distCh chan distRequest, stop chan struct{}, wg *sync.WaitGroup) chan []byte {
-	dataCh := make(chan []byte, channelCap)
-	returnCh := make(chan uint64, channelCap)
-	wg.Add(2)
-
-	go func() {
-		defer wg.Done()
-		defer close(returnCh)
-
-		for {
-			select {
-			case <-stop:
-				return
-			case idx, ok := <-sectionCh:
-				if !ok {
-					return
-				}
-
-				req := false
-				f.requestLock.Lock()
-				r := f.requestMap[idx]
-				if r.data == nil {
-					req = !r.queued
-					r.queued = true
-					if r.delivered == nil {
-						r.delivered = make(chan struct{})
-					}
-					f.requestMap[idx] = r
-				}
-				f.requestLock.Unlock()
-				if req {
-					distCh <- distRequest{bloomIndex: f.bloomIndex, sectionIndex: idx} // success is guaranteed, distibuteRequests shuts down after fetch
-				}
-				select {
-				case <-stop:
-					return
-				case returnCh <- idx:
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}()
-
-	go func() {
-		defer wg.Done()
-		defer close(dataCh)
-
-		for {
-			select {
-			case <-stop:
-				return
-			case idx, ok := <-returnCh:
-				if !ok {
-					return
-				}
-
-				f.requestLock.RLock()
-				r := f.requestMap[idx]
-				f.requestLock.RUnlock()
-
-				if r.data == nil {
-					select {
-					case <-stop:
-						return
-					case <-r.delivered:
-						f.requestLock.RLock()
-						r = f.requestMap[idx]
-						f.requestLock.RUnlock()
-					}
-				}
-				select {
-				case <-stop:
-					return
-				case dataCh <- r.data:
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}()
-
-	return dataCh
+// Retrieval represents a request for retrieval task assignments for a given
+// bit with the given number of fetch elements, or a response for such a request.
+// It can also have the actual results set to be used as a delivery data struct.
+type Retrieval struct {
+	Bit      uint
+	Sections []uint64
+	Bitsets  [][]byte
 }
 
-// deliver is called by the request distributor when a reply to a request has
-// arrived
-func (f *fetcher) deliver(sectionIdxList []uint64, data [][]byte) {
-	f.requestLock.Lock()
-	defer f.requestLock.Unlock()
+// Matcher is a pipelined system of schedulers and logic matchers which perform
+// binary AND/OR operations on the bit-streams, creating a stream of potential
+// blocks to inspect for data content.
+type Matcher struct {
+	sectionSize uint64 // Size of the data batches to filter on
 
-	for i, sectionIdx := range sectionIdxList {
-		r := f.requestMap[sectionIdx]
-		if r.data != nil {
-			panic("BloomBits section data delivered twice")
-		}
-		r.data = data[i]
-		close(r.delivered)
-		f.requestMap[sectionIdx] = r
-	}
-}
+	addresses  []bloomIndexes      // Addresses the system is filtering for
+	topics     [][]bloomIndexes    // Topics the system is filtering for
+	schedulers map[uint]*scheduler // Retrieval schedulers for loading bloom bits
 
-// Matcher is a pipelined structure of fetchers and logic matchers which perform
-// binary AND/OR operations on the bitstreams, finally creating a stream of potential matches.
-type Matcher struct {
-	addresses   []types.BloomIndexList
-	topics      [][]types.BloomIndexList
-	fetchers    map[uint]*fetcher
-	sectionSize uint64
-
-	distCh     chan distRequest
-	reqs       map[uint][]uint64
-	freeQueues map[uint]struct{}
-	allocQueue []chan uint
-	running    bool
-	stop       chan struct{}
-	lock       sync.Mutex
-	wg, distWg sync.WaitGroup
+	retrievers chan chan uint       // Retriever processes waiting for bit allocations
+	counters   chan chan uint       // Retriever processes waiting for task count reports
+	retrievals chan chan *Retrieval // Retriever processes waiting for task allocations
+	deliveries chan *Retrieval      // Retriever processes waiting for task response deliveries
+
+	running uint32 // Atomic flag whether a session is live or not
 }
 
-// NewMatcher creates a new Matcher instance
+// NewMatcher creates a new pipeline for retrieving bloom bit streams and doing
+// address and topic filtering on them.
 func NewMatcher(sectionSize uint64, addresses []common.Address, topics [][]common.Hash) *Matcher {
 	m := &Matcher{
-		fetchers:    make(map[uint]*fetcher),
-		reqs:        make(map[uint][]uint64),
-		freeQueues:  make(map[uint]struct{}),
-		distCh:      make(chan distRequest, channelCap),
 		sectionSize: sectionSize,
+		schedulers:  make(map[uint]*scheduler),
+		retrievers:  make(chan chan uint),
+		counters:    make(chan chan uint),
+		retrievals:  make(chan chan *Retrieval),
+		deliveries:  make(chan *Retrieval),
 	}
 	m.setAddresses(addresses)
 	m.setTopics(topics)
 	return m
 }
 
-// setAddresses matches only logs that are generated from addresses that are included
-// in the given addresses.
+// setAddresses configures the matcher to only return logs that are generated
+// from addresses that are included in the given list.
 func (m *Matcher) setAddresses(addresses []common.Address) {
-	m.addresses = make([]types.BloomIndexList, len(addresses))
+	// Calculate the bloom bit indexes for the addresses we're interested in
+	m.addresses = make([]bloomIndexes, len(addresses))
 	for i, address := range addresses {
-		m.addresses[i] = types.BloomIndexes(address.Bytes())
+		m.addresses[i] = calcBloomIndexes(address.Bytes())
 	}
-
+	// For every bit, create a scheduler to load/download the bit vectors
 	for _, bloomIndexList := range m.addresses {
 		for _, bloomIndex := range bloomIndexList {
-			m.newFetcher(bloomIndex)
+			m.addScheduler(bloomIndex)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-// setTopics matches only logs that have topics matching the given topics.
-func (m *Matcher) setTopics(topics [][]common.Hash) {
+// setTopics configures the matcher to only return logs that have topics matching
+// the given list.
+func (m *Matcher) setTopics(topicsList [][]common.Hash) {
+	// Calculate the bloom bit indexes for the topics we're interested in
 	m.topics = nil
-loop:
-	for _, topicList := range topics {
-		t := make([]types.BloomIndexList, len(topicList))
-		for i, topic := range topicList {
-			if (topic == common.Hash{}) {
-				continue loop
-			}
-			t[i] = types.BloomIndexes(topic.Bytes())
+
+	for _, topics := range topicsList {
+		bloomBits := make([]bloomIndexes, len(topics))
+		for i, topic := range topics {
+			bloomBits[i] = calcBloomIndexes(topic.Bytes())
 		}
-		m.topics = append(m.topics, t)
+		m.topics = append(m.topics, bloomBits)
 	}
-
+	// For every bit, create a scheduler to load/download the bit vectors
 	for _, bloomIndexLists := range m.topics {
 		for _, bloomIndexList := range bloomIndexLists {
 			for _, bloomIndex := range bloomIndexList {
-				m.newFetcher(bloomIndex)
+				m.addScheduler(bloomIndex)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-// match creates a daisy-chain of sub-matchers, one for the address set and one for each topic set, each
-// sub-matcher receiving a section only if the previous ones have all found a potential match in one of
-// the blocks of the section, then binary AND-ing its own matches and forwaring the result to the next one
-func (m *Matcher) match(processCh chan partialMatches) chan partialMatches {
-	indexLists := m.topics
-	if len(m.addresses) > 0 {
-		indexLists = append([][]types.BloomIndexList{m.addresses}, indexLists...)
+// addScheduler adds a bit stream retrieval scheduler for the given bit index if
+// it has not existed before. If the bit is already selected for filtering, the
+// existing scheduler can be used.
+func (m *Matcher) addScheduler(idx uint) {
+	if _, ok := m.schedulers[idx]; ok {
+		return
 	}
-	m.distributeRequests()
+	m.schedulers[idx] = newScheduler(idx)
+}
 
-	for _, subIndexList := range indexLists {
-		processCh = m.subMatch(processCh, subIndexList)
+// Start starts the matching process and returns a stream of bloom matches in
+// a given range of blocks. If there are no more matches in the range, the result
+// channel is closed.
+func (m *Matcher) Start(begin, end uint64, results chan uint64) (*MatcherSession, error) {
+	// Make sure we're not creating concurrent sessions
+	if atomic.SwapUint32(&m.running, 1) == 1 {
+		return nil, errors.New("matcher already running")
 	}
-	return processCh
-}
+	defer atomic.StoreUint32(&m.running, 0)
 
-// partialMatches with a non-nil vector represents a section in which some sub-matchers have already
-// found potential matches. Subsequent sub-matchers will binary AND their matches with this vector.
-// If vector is nil, it represents a section to be processed by the first sub-matcher.
-type partialMatches struct {
-	sectionIndex uint64
-	vector       []byte
+	// Initiate a new matching round
+	session := &MatcherSession{
+		matcher: m,
+		quit:    make(chan struct{}),
+		kill:    make(chan struct{}),
+	}
+	for _, scheduler := range m.schedulers {
+		scheduler.reset()
+	}
+	sink := m.run(begin, end, cap(results), session)
+
+	// Read the output from the result sink and deliver to the user
+	session.pend.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer session.pend.Done()
+		defer close(results)
+
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-session.quit:
+				return
+
+			case res, ok := <-sink:
+				// New match result found
+				if !ok {
+					return
+				}
+				// Calculate the first and last blocks of the section
+				sectionStart := res.section * m.sectionSize
+
+				first := sectionStart
+				if begin > first {
+					first = begin
+				}
+				last := sectionStart + m.sectionSize - 1
+				if end < last {
+					last = end
+				}
+				// Iterate over all the blocks in the section and return the matching ones
+				for i := first; i <= last; i++ {
+					// If the bitset is nil, we're a special match-all cornercase
+					if res.bitset == nil {
+						select {
+						case <-session.quit:
+							return
+						case results <- i:
+						}
+						continue
+					}
+					// Skip the entire byte if no matches are found inside
+					next := res.bitset[(i-sectionStart)/8]
+					if next == 0 {
+						i += 7
+						continue
+					}
+					// Some bit it set, do the actual submatching
+					if bit := 7 - i%8; next&(1<<bit) != 0 {
+						select {
+						case <-session.quit:
+							return
+						case results <- i:
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	return session, nil
 }
 
-// newFetcher adds a fetcher for the given bit index if it has not existed before
-func (m *Matcher) newFetcher(idx uint) {
-	if _, ok := m.fetchers[idx]; ok {
-		return
+// run creates a daisy-chain of sub-matchers, one for the address set and one
+// for each topic set, each sub-matcher receiving a section only if the previous
+// ones have all found a potential match in one of the blocks of the section,
+// then binary AND-ing its own matches and forwaring the result to the next one.
+//
+// The method starts feeding the section indexes into the first sub-matcher on a
+// new goroutine and returns a sink channel receiving the results.
+func (m *Matcher) run(begin, end uint64, buffer int, session *MatcherSession) chan *partialMatches {
+	// Create the source channel and feed section indexes into
+	source := make(chan *partialMatches, buffer)
+
+	session.pend.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer session.pend.Done()
+		defer close(source)
+
+		for i := begin / m.sectionSize; i <= end/m.sectionSize; i++ {
+			select {
+			case <-session.quit:
+				return
+			case source <- &partialMatches{i, nil}:
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	// Assemble the daisy-chained filtering pipeline
+	blooms := m.topics
+	if len(m.addresses) > 0 {
+		blooms = append([][]bloomIndexes{m.addresses}, blooms...)
 	}
-	f := &fetcher{
-		bloomIndex: idx,
-		requestMap: make(map[uint64]fetchRequest),
+	next := source
+	dist := make(chan *request, buffer)
+
+	for _, bloom := range blooms {
+		next = m.subMatch(next, dist, bloom, session)
 	}
-	m.fetchers[idx] = f
+	// Start the request distribution
+	session.pend.Add(1)
+	go m.distributor(dist, session)
+
+	return next
 }
 
 // subMatch creates a sub-matcher that filters for a set of addresses or topics, binary OR-s those matches, then
-// binary AND-s the result to the daisy-chain input (processCh) and forwards it to the daisy-chain output.
+// binary AND-s the result to the daisy-chain input (source) and forwards it to the daisy-chain output.
 // The matches of each address/topic are calculated by fetching the given sections of the three bloom bit indexes belonging to
 // that address/topic, and binary AND-ing those vectors together.
-func (m *Matcher) subMatch(processCh chan partialMatches, bloomIndexLists []types.BloomIndexList) chan partialMatches {
-	// set up fetchers
-	fetchIndexChannels := make([][3]chan uint64, len(bloomIndexLists))
-	fetchDataChannels := make([][3]chan []byte, len(bloomIndexLists))
-	for i, bloomIndexList := range bloomIndexLists {
-		for j, bloomIndex := range bloomIndexList {
-			fetchIndexChannels[i][j] = make(chan uint64, channelCap)
-			fetchDataChannels[i][j] = m.fetchers[bloomIndex].fetch(fetchIndexChannels[i][j], m.distCh, m.stop, &m.wg)
+func (m *Matcher) subMatch(source chan *partialMatches, dist chan *request, bloom []bloomIndexes, session *MatcherSession) chan *partialMatches {
+	// Start the concurrent schedulers for each bit required by the bloom filter
+	sectionSources := make([][3]chan uint64, len(bloom))
+	sectionSinks := make([][3]chan []byte, len(bloom))
+	for i, bits := range bloom {
+		for j, bit := range bits {
+			sectionSources[i][j] = make(chan uint64, cap(source))
+			sectionSinks[i][j] = make(chan []byte, cap(source))
+
+			m.schedulers[bit].run(sectionSources[i][j], dist, sectionSinks[i][j], session.quit, &session.pend)
 		}
 	}
 
-	fetchedCh := make(chan partialMatches, channelCap) // entries from processCh are forwarded here after fetches have been initiated
-	resultsCh := make(chan partialMatches, channelCap)
+	process := make(chan *partialMatches, cap(source)) // entries from source are forwarded here after fetches have been initiated
+	results := make(chan *partialMatches, cap(source))
 
-	m.wg.Add(2)
-	// goroutine for starting retrievals
+	session.pend.Add(2)
 	go func() {
-		defer m.wg.Done()
-
+		// Tear down the goroutine and terminate all source channels
+		defer session.pend.Done()
+		defer close(process)
+
+		defer func() {
+			for _, bloomSources := range sectionSources {
+				for _, bitSource := range bloomSources {
+					close(bitSource)
+				}
+			}
+		}()
+		// Read sections from the source channel and multiplex into all bit-schedulers
 		for {
 			select {
-			case <-m.stop:
+			case <-session.quit:
 				return
-			case s, ok := <-processCh:
+
+			case subres, ok := <-source:
+				// New subresult from previous link
 				if !ok {
-					close(fetchedCh)
-					for _, fetchIndexChs := range fetchIndexChannels {
-						for _, fetchIndexCh := range fetchIndexChs {
-							close(fetchIndexCh)
-						}
-					}
 					return
 				}
-
-				for _, fetchIndexChs := range fetchIndexChannels {
-					for _, fetchIndexCh := range fetchIndexChs {
+				// Multiplex the section index to all bit-schedulers
+				for _, bloomSources := range sectionSources {
+					for _, bitSource := range bloomSources {
 						select {
-						case <-m.stop:
+						case <-session.quit:
 							return
-						case fetchIndexCh <- s.sectionIndex:
+						case bitSource <- subres.section:
 						}
 					}
 				}
+				// Notify the processor that this section will become available
 				select {
-				case <-m.stop:
+				case <-session.quit:
 					return
-				case fetchedCh <- s:
+				case process <- subres:
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}()
 
-	// goroutine for processing retrieved data
 	go func() {
-		defer m.wg.Done()
+		// Tear down the goroutine and terminate the final sink channel
+		defer session.pend.Done()
+		defer close(results)
 
+		// Read the source notifications and collect the delivered results
 		for {
 			select {
-			case <-m.stop:
+			case <-session.quit:
 				return
-			case s, ok := <-fetchedCh:
+
+			case subres, ok := <-process:
+				// Notified of a section being retrieved
 				if !ok {
-					close(resultsCh)
 					return
 				}
-
+				// Gather all the sub-results and merge them together
 				var orVector []byte
-				for _, fetchDataChs := range fetchDataChannels {
+				for _, bloomSinks := range sectionSinks {
 					var andVector []byte
-					for _, fetchDataCh := range fetchDataChs {
+					for _, bitSink := range bloomSinks {
 						var data []byte
 						select {
-						case <-m.stop:
+						case <-session.quit:
 							return
-						case data = <-fetchDataCh:
+						case data = <-bitSink:
 						}
 						if andVector == nil {
 							andVector = make([]byte, int(m.sectionSize/8))
@@ -352,228 +375,277 @@ func (m *Matcher) subMatch(processCh chan partialMatches, bloomIndexLists []type
 				if orVector == nil {
 					orVector = make([]byte, int(m.sectionSize/8))
 				}
-				if s.vector != nil {
-					bitutil.ANDBytes(orVector, orVector, s.vector)
+				if subres.bitset != nil {
+					bitutil.ANDBytes(orVector, orVector, subres.bitset)
 				}
 				if bitutil.TestBytes(orVector) {
 					select {
-					case <-m.stop:
+					case <-session.quit:
 						return
-					case resultsCh <- partialMatches{s.sectionIndex, orVector}:
+					case results <- &partialMatches{subres.section, orVector}:
 					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}()
-
-	return resultsCh
+	return results
 }
 
-// Start starts the matching process and returns a stream of bloom matches in
-// a given range of blocks.
-// It returns a results channel immediately and stops if Stop is called or there
-// are no more matches in the range (in which case the results channel is closed).
-// Start/Stop can be called multiple times for different ranges, in which case already
-// delivered bit vectors are not requested again.
-func (m *Matcher) Start(begin, end uint64) chan uint64 {
-	m.stop = make(chan struct{})
-	processCh := make(chan partialMatches, channelCap)
-	resultsCh := make(chan uint64, channelCap)
-
-	res := m.match(processCh)
-
-	startSection := begin / m.sectionSize
-	endSection := end / m.sectionSize
-
-	m.wg.Add(2)
-	go func() {
-		defer m.wg.Done()
-		defer close(processCh)
+// distributor receives requests from the schedulers and queues them into a set
+// of pending requests, which are assigned to retrievers wanting to fulfil them.
+func (m *Matcher) distributor(dist chan *request, session *MatcherSession) {
+	defer session.pend.Done()
+
+	var (
+		requests   = make(map[uint][]uint64) // Per-bit list of section requests, ordered by section number
+		unallocs   = make(map[uint]struct{}) // Bits with pending requests but not allocated to any retriever
+		retrievers chan chan uint            // Waiting retrievers (toggled to nil if unallocs is empty)
+	)
+	var (
+		allocs   int            // Number of active allocations to handle graceful shutdown requests
+		shutdown = session.quit // Shutdown request channel, will gracefully wait for pending requests
+	)
+
+	// assign is a helper method fo try to assign a pending bit an an actively
+	// listening servicer, or schedule it up for later when one arrives.
+	assign := func(bit uint) {
+		select {
+		case fetcher := <-m.retrievers:
+			allocs++
+			fetcher <- bit
+		default:
+			// No retrievers active, start listening for new ones
+			retrievers = m.retrievers
+			unallocs[bit] = struct{}{}
+		}
+	}
 
-		for i := startSection; i <= endSection; i++ {
-			select {
-			case processCh <- partialMatches{i, nil}:
-			case <-m.stop:
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-shutdown:
+			// Graceful shutdown requested, wait until all pending requests are honoured
+			if allocs == 0 {
 				return
 			}
-		}
-	}()
+			shutdown = nil
 
-	go func() {
-		defer m.wg.Done()
-		defer close(resultsCh)
+		case <-session.kill:
+			// Pending requests not honoured in time, hard terminate
+			return
 
-		for {
-			select {
-			case r, ok := <-res:
-				if !ok {
-					return
-				}
-				sectionStart := r.sectionIndex * m.sectionSize
-				s := sectionStart
-				if begin > s {
-					s = begin
-				}
-				e := sectionStart + m.sectionSize - 1
-				if end < e {
-					e = end
-				}
-				for i := s; i <= e; i++ {
-					b := r.vector[(i-sectionStart)/8]
-					bit := 7 - i%8
-					if b != 0 {
-						if b&(1<<bit) != 0 {
-							select {
-							case <-m.stop:
-								return
-							case resultsCh <- i:
-							}
-						}
-					} else {
-						i += bit
-					}
-				}
+		case req := <-dist:
+			// New retrieval request arrived to be distributed to some fetcher process
+			queue := requests[req.bit]
+			index := sort.Search(len(queue), func(i int) bool { return queue[i] >= req.section })
+			requests[req.bit] = append(queue[:index], append([]uint64{req.section}, queue[index:]...)...)
 
-			case <-m.stop:
-				return
+			// If it's a new bit and we have waiting fetchers, allocate to them
+			if len(queue) == 0 {
+				assign(req.bit)
 			}
-		}
-	}()
-
-	return resultsCh
-}
-
-// Stop stops the matching process
-func (m *Matcher) Stop() {
-	close(m.stop)
-	m.distWg.Wait()
-}
 
-// distributeRequests receives requests from the fetchers and either queues them
-// or immediately forwards them to one of the waiting NextRequest functions.
-// Requests with a lower section idx are always prioritized.
-func (m *Matcher) distributeRequests() {
-	m.distWg.Add(1)
-	stopDist := make(chan struct{})
-	go func() {
-		<-m.stop
-		m.wg.Wait()
-		close(stopDist)
-	}()
+		case fetcher := <-retrievers:
+			// New retriever arrived, find the lowest section-ed bit to assign
+			bit, best := uint(0), uint64(math.MaxUint64)
+			for idx := range unallocs {
+				if requests[idx][0] < best {
+					bit, best = idx, requests[idx][0]
+				}
+			}
+			// Stop tracking this bit (and alloc notifications if no more work is available)
+			delete(unallocs, bit)
+			if len(unallocs) == 0 {
+				retrievers = nil
+			}
+			allocs++
+			fetcher <- bit
+
+		case fetcher := <-m.counters:
+			// New task count request arrives, return number of items
+			fetcher <- uint(len(requests[<-fetcher]))
+
+		case fetcher := <-m.retrievals:
+			// New fetcher waiting for tasks to retrieve, assign
+			task := <-fetcher
+			if want := len(task.Sections); want >= len(requests[task.Bit]) {
+				task.Sections = requests[task.Bit]
+				delete(requests, task.Bit)
+			} else {
+				task.Sections = append(task.Sections[:0], requests[task.Bit][:want]...)
+				requests[task.Bit] = append(requests[task.Bit][:0], requests[task.Bit][want:]...)
+			}
+			fetcher <- task
 
-	m.running = true
+			// If anything was left unallocated, try to assign to someone else
+			if len(requests[task.Bit]) > 0 {
+				assign(task.Bit)
+			}
 
-	go func() {
-		for {
-			select {
-			case r := <-m.distCh:
-				m.lock.Lock()
-				queue := m.reqs[r.bloomIndex]
-				i := 0
-				for i < len(queue) && r.sectionIndex > queue[i] {
-					i++
+		case result := <-m.deliveries:
+			// New retrieval task response from fetcher, split out missing sections and
+			// deliver complete ones
+			var (
+				sections = make([]uint64, 0, len(result.Sections))
+				bitsets  = make([][]byte, 0, len(result.Bitsets))
+				missing  = make([]uint64, 0, len(result.Sections))
+			)
+			for i, bitset := range result.Bitsets {
+				if len(bitset) == 0 {
+					missing = append(missing, result.Sections[i])
+					continue
 				}
-				queue = append(queue, 0)
-				copy(queue[i+1:], queue[i:len(queue)-1])
-				queue[i] = r.sectionIndex
-				m.reqs[r.bloomIndex] = queue
-				if len(queue) == 1 {
-					m.freeQueue(r.bloomIndex)
+				sections = append(sections, result.Sections[i])
+				bitsets = append(bitsets, bitset)
+			}
+			m.schedulers[result.Bit].deliver(sections, bitsets)
+			allocs--
+
+			// Reschedule missing sections and allocate bit if newly available
+			if len(missing) > 0 {
+				queue := requests[result.Bit]
+				for _, section := range missing {
+					index := sort.Search(len(queue), func(i int) bool { return queue[i] >= section })
+					queue = append(queue[:index], append([]uint64{section}, queue[index:]...)...)
 				}
-				m.lock.Unlock()
-			case <-stopDist:
-				m.lock.Lock()
-				for _, ch := range m.allocQueue {
-					close(ch)
+				requests[result.Bit] = queue
+
+				if len(queue) == len(missing) {
+					assign(result.Bit)
 				}
-				m.allocQueue = nil
-				m.running = false
-				m.lock.Unlock()
-				m.distWg.Done()
+			}
+			// If we're in the process of shutting down, terminate
+			if allocs == 0 && shutdown == nil {
 				return
 			}
 		}
-	}()
+	}
 }
 
-// freeQueue marks a queue as free if there are no AllocSectionQueue functions
-// waiting for allocation. If there is someone waiting, the queue is immediately
-// allocated.
-func (m *Matcher) freeQueue(bloomIndex uint) {
-	if len(m.allocQueue) > 0 {
-		m.allocQueue[0] <- bloomIndex
-		m.allocQueue = m.allocQueue[1:]
-	} else {
-		m.freeQueues[bloomIndex] = struct{}{}
+// MatcherSession is returned by a started matcher to be used as a terminator
+// for the actively running matching operation.
+type MatcherSession struct {
+	matcher *Matcher
+
+	quit chan struct{} // Quit channel to request pipeline termination
+	kill chan struct{} // Term channel to signal non-graceful forced shutdown
+	pend sync.WaitGroup
+}
+
+// Close stops the matching process and waits for all subprocesses to terminate
+// before returning. The timeout may be used for graceful shutdown, allowing the
+// currently running retrievals to complete before this time.
+func (s *MatcherSession) Close(timeout time.Duration) {
+	// Bail out if the matcher is not running
+	select {
+	case <-s.quit:
+		return
+	default:
 	}
+	// Signal termination and wait for all goroutines to tear down
+	close(s.quit)
+	time.AfterFunc(timeout, func() { close(s.kill) })
+	s.pend.Wait()
 }
 
-// AllocSectionQueue allocates a queue of requested section indexes belonging to the same
-// bloom bit index for a client process that can either immediately fetch the contents
-// of the queue or wait a little while for more section indexes to be requested.
-func (m *Matcher) AllocSectionQueue() (uint, bool) {
-	m.lock.Lock()
-	if !m.running {
-		m.lock.Unlock()
+// AllocateRetrieval assigns a bloom bit index to a client process that can either
+// immediately reuest and fetch the section contents assigned to this bit or wait
+// a little while for more sections to be requested.
+func (s *MatcherSession) AllocateRetrieval() (uint, bool) {
+	fetcher := make(chan uint)
+
+	select {
+	case <-s.quit:
 		return 0, false
+	case s.matcher.retrievers <- fetcher:
+		bit, ok := <-fetcher
+		return bit, ok
 	}
+}
 
-	var allocCh chan uint
-	if len(m.freeQueues) > 0 {
-		var (
-			found       bool
-			bestSection uint64
-			bestIndex   uint
-		)
-		for bloomIndex, _ := range m.freeQueues {
-			if !found || m.reqs[bloomIndex][0] < bestSection {
-				found = true
-				bestIndex = bloomIndex
-				bestSection = m.reqs[bloomIndex][0]
-			}
-		}
-		delete(m.freeQueues, bestIndex)
-		m.lock.Unlock()
-		return bestIndex, true
-	} else {
-		allocCh = make(chan uint)
-		m.allocQueue = append(m.allocQueue, allocCh)
+// PendingSections returns the number of pending section retrievals belonging to
+// the given bloom bit index.
+func (s *MatcherSession) PendingSections(bit uint) int {
+	fetcher := make(chan uint)
+
+	select {
+	case <-s.quit:
+		return 0
+	case s.matcher.counters <- fetcher:
+		fetcher <- bit
+		return int(<-fetcher)
 	}
-	m.lock.Unlock()
-
-	bloomIndex, ok := <-allocCh
-	return bloomIndex, ok
 }
 
-// SectionCount returns the length of the section index queue belonging to the given bloom bit index
-func (m *Matcher) SectionCount(bloomIndex uint) int {
-	m.lock.Lock()
-	defer m.lock.Unlock()
-
-	return len(m.reqs[bloomIndex])
+// AllocateSections assigns all or part of an already allocated bit-task queue
+// to the requesting process.
+func (s *MatcherSession) AllocateSections(bit uint, count int) []uint64 {
+	fetcher := make(chan *Retrieval)
+
+	select {
+	case <-s.quit:
+		return nil
+	case s.matcher.retrievals <- fetcher:
+		task := &Retrieval{
+			Bit:      bit,
+			Sections: make([]uint64, count),
+		}
+		fetcher <- task
+		return (<-fetcher).Sections
+	}
 }
 
-// FetchSections fetches all or part of an already allocated queue and deallocates it
-func (m *Matcher) FetchSections(bloomIndex uint, maxCount int) []uint64 {
-	m.lock.Lock()
-	defer m.lock.Unlock()
-
-	queue := m.reqs[bloomIndex]
-	if maxCount < len(queue) {
-		// return only part of the existing queue, mark the rest as free
-		m.reqs[bloomIndex] = queue[maxCount:]
-		m.freeQueue(bloomIndex)
-		return queue[:maxCount]
-	} else {
-		// return the entire queue
-		delete(m.reqs, bloomIndex)
-		return queue
+// DeliverSections delivers a batch of section bit-vectors for a specific bloom
+// bit index to be injected into the processing pipeline.
+func (s *MatcherSession) DeliverSections(bit uint, sections []uint64, bitsets [][]byte) {
+	select {
+	case <-s.kill:
+		return
+	case s.matcher.deliveries <- &Retrieval{Bit: bit, Sections: sections, Bitsets: bitsets}:
 	}
 }
 
-// Deliver delivers a bit vector to the appropriate fetcher.
-// It is possible to deliver data even after Stop has been called. Once a vector has been
-// requested, the matcher will keep waiting for delivery.
-func (m *Matcher) Deliver(bloomIndex uint, sectionIdxList []uint64, data [][]byte) {
-	m.fetchers[bloomIndex].deliver(sectionIdxList, data)
+// Multiplex polls the matcher session for rerieval tasks and multiplexes it into
+// the reuested retrieval queue to be serviced together with other sessions.
+//
+// This method will block for the lifetime of the session. Even after termination
+// of the session, any request in-flight need to be responded to! Empty responses
+// are fine though in that case.
+func (s *MatcherSession) Multiplex(batch int, wait time.Duration, mux chan chan *Retrieval) {
+	for {
+		// Allocate a new bloom bit index to retrieve data for, stopping when done
+		bit, ok := s.AllocateRetrieval()
+		if !ok {
+			return
+		}
+		// Bit allocated, throttle a bit if we're below our batch limit
+		if s.PendingSections(bit) < batch {
+			select {
+			case <-s.quit:
+				// Session terminating, we can't meaningfully service, abort
+				s.AllocateSections(bit, 0)
+				s.DeliverSections(bit, []uint64{}, [][]byte{})
+				return
+
+			case <-time.After(wait):
+				// Throttling up, fetch whatever's available
+			}
+		}
+		// Allocate as much as we can handle and request servicing
+		sections := s.AllocateSections(bit, batch)
+		request := make(chan *Retrieval)
+
+		select {
+		case <-s.quit:
+			// Session terminating, we can't meaningfully service, abort
+			s.DeliverSections(bit, sections, make([][]byte, len(sections)))
+			return
+
+		case mux <- request:
+			// Retrieval accepted, something must arrive before we're aborting
+			request <- &Retrieval{Bit: bit, Sections: sections}
+
+			result := <-request
+			s.DeliverSections(result.Bit, result.Sections, result.Bitsets)
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/core/bloombits/matcher_test.go b/core/bloombits/matcher_test.go
index bef1491b8..fc49b43b8 100644
--- a/core/bloombits/matcher_test.go
+++ b/core/bloombits/matcher_test.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 //
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
 // along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
 package bloombits
 
 import (
@@ -20,177 +21,219 @@ import (
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
-
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 )
 
 const testSectionSize = 4096
 
-func matcherTestVector(b uint, s uint64) []byte {
-	r := make([]byte, testSectionSize/8)
-	for i, _ := range r {
-		var bb byte
-		for bit := 0; bit < 8; bit++ {
-			blockIdx := s*testSectionSize + uint64(i*8+bit)
-			bb += bb
-			if (blockIdx % uint64(b)) == 0 {
-				bb++
-			}
-		}
-		r[i] = bb
-	}
-	return r
+// Tests the matcher pipeline on a single continuous workflow without interrupts.
+func TestMatcherContinuous(t *testing.T) {
+	testMatcherDiffBatches(t, [][]bloomIndexes{{{10, 20, 30}}}, 100000, false, 75)
+	testMatcherDiffBatches(t, [][]bloomIndexes{{{32, 3125, 100}}, {{40, 50, 10}}}, 100000, false, 81)
+	testMatcherDiffBatches(t, [][]bloomIndexes{{{4, 8, 11}, {7, 8, 17}}, {{9, 9, 12}, {15, 20, 13}}, {{18, 15, 15}, {12, 10, 4}}}, 10000, false, 36)
 }
 
-func expMatch1(idxs types.BloomIndexList, i uint64) bool {
-	for _, ii := range idxs {
-		if (i % uint64(ii)) != 0 {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
+// Tests the matcher pipeline on a constantly interrupted and resumed work pattern
+// with the aim of ensuring data items are requested only once.
+func TestMatcherIntermittent(t *testing.T) {
+	testMatcherDiffBatches(t, [][]bloomIndexes{{{10, 20, 30}}}, 100000, true, 75)
+	testMatcherDiffBatches(t, [][]bloomIndexes{{{32, 3125, 100}}, {{40, 50, 10}}}, 100000, true, 81)
+	testMatcherDiffBatches(t, [][]bloomIndexes{{{4, 8, 11}, {7, 8, 17}}, {{9, 9, 12}, {15, 20, 13}}, {{18, 15, 15}, {12, 10, 4}}}, 10000, true, 36)
 }
 
-func expMatch2(idxs []types.BloomIndexList, i uint64) bool {
-	for _, ii := range idxs {
-		if expMatch1(ii, i) {
-			return true
-		}
+// Tests the matcher pipeline on random input to hopefully catch anomalies.
+func TestMatcherRandom(t *testing.T) {
+	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
+		testMatcherBothModes(t, makeRandomIndexes([]int{1}, 50), 10000, 0)
+		testMatcherBothModes(t, makeRandomIndexes([]int{3}, 50), 10000, 0)
+		testMatcherBothModes(t, makeRandomIndexes([]int{2, 2, 2}, 20), 10000, 0)
+		testMatcherBothModes(t, makeRandomIndexes([]int{5, 5, 5}, 50), 10000, 0)
+		testMatcherBothModes(t, makeRandomIndexes([]int{4, 4, 4}, 20), 10000, 0)
 	}
-	return false
 }
 
-func expMatch3(idxs [][]types.BloomIndexList, i uint64) bool {
-	for _, ii := range idxs {
-		if !expMatch2(ii, i) {
-			return false
+// makeRandomIndexes generates a random filter system, composed on multiple filter
+// criteria, each having one bloom list component for the address and arbitrarilly
+// many topic bloom list components.
+func makeRandomIndexes(lengths []int, max int) [][]bloomIndexes {
+	res := make([][]bloomIndexes, len(lengths))
+	for i, topics := range lengths {
+		res[i] = make([]bloomIndexes, topics)
+		for j := 0; j < topics; j++ {
+			for k := 0; k < len(res[i][j]); k++ {
+				res[i][j][k] = uint(rand.Intn(max-1) + 2)
+			}
 		}
 	}
-	return true
+	return res
 }
 
-func testServeMatcher(m *Matcher, stop chan struct{}, cnt *uint32, maxRequestLen int) {
-	// serve matcher with test vectors
-	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
-		go func() {
-			for {
-				select {
-				case <-stop:
-					return
-				default:
-				}
-				b, ok := m.AllocSectionQueue()
-				if !ok {
-					return
-				}
-				if m.SectionCount(b) < maxRequestLen {
-					time.Sleep(time.Microsecond * 100)
-				}
-				s := m.FetchSections(b, maxRequestLen)
-				res := make([][]byte, len(s))
-				for i, ss := range s {
-					res[i] = matcherTestVector(b, ss)
-					atomic.AddUint32(cnt, 1)
-				}
-				m.Deliver(b, s, res)
-			}
-		}()
+// testMatcherDiffBatches runs the given matches test in single-delivery and also
+// in batches delivery mode, verifying that all kinds of deliveries are handled
+// correctly withn.
+func testMatcherDiffBatches(t *testing.T, filter [][]bloomIndexes, blocks uint64, intermittent bool, retrievals uint32) {
+	singleton := testMatcher(t, filter, blocks, intermittent, retrievals, 1)
+	batched := testMatcher(t, filter, blocks, intermittent, retrievals, 16)
+
+	if singleton != batched {
+		t.Errorf("filter = %v blocks = %v intermittent = %v: request count mismatch, %v in signleton vs. %v in batched mode", filter, blocks, intermittent, singleton, batched)
 	}
 }
 
-func testMatcher(t *testing.T, idxs [][]types.BloomIndexList, cnt uint64, stopOnMatches bool, expCount uint32) uint32 {
-	count1 := testMatcherWithReqCount(t, idxs, cnt, stopOnMatches, expCount, 1)
-	count16 := testMatcherWithReqCount(t, idxs, cnt, stopOnMatches, expCount, 16)
-	if count1 != count16 {
-		t.Errorf("Error matching idxs = %v  count = %v  stopOnMatches = %v: request count mismatch, %v with maxReqCount = 1 vs. %v with maxReqCount = 16", idxs, cnt, stopOnMatches, count1, count16)
+// testMatcherBothModes runs the given matcher test in both continuous as well as
+// in intermittent mode, verifying that the request counts match each other.
+func testMatcherBothModes(t *testing.T, filter [][]bloomIndexes, blocks uint64, retrievals uint32) {
+	continuous := testMatcher(t, filter, blocks, false, retrievals, 16)
+	intermittent := testMatcher(t, filter, blocks, true, retrievals, 16)
+
+	if continuous != intermittent {
+		t.Errorf("filter = %v blocks = %v: request count mismatch, %v in continuous vs. %v in intermittent mode", filter, blocks, continuous, intermittent)
 	}
-	return count1
 }
 
-func testMatcherWithReqCount(t *testing.T, idxs [][]types.BloomIndexList, cnt uint64, stopOnMatches bool, expCount uint32, maxReqCount int) uint32 {
-	m := NewMatcher(testSectionSize, nil, nil)
+// testMatcher is a generic tester to run the given matcher test and return the
+// number of requests made for cross validation between different modes.
+func testMatcher(t *testing.T, filter [][]bloomIndexes, blocks uint64, intermittent bool, retrievals uint32, maxReqCount int) uint32 {
+	// Create a new matcher an simulate our explicit random bitsets
+	matcher := NewMatcher(testSectionSize, nil, nil)
 
-	for _, idxss := range idxs {
-		for _, idxs := range idxss {
-			for _, idx := range idxs {
-				m.newFetcher(idx)
+	matcher.addresses = filter[0]
+	matcher.topics = filter[1:]
+
+	for _, rule := range filter {
+		for _, topic := range rule {
+			for _, bit := range topic {
+				matcher.addScheduler(bit)
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// Track the number of retrieval requests made
+	var requested uint32
 
-	m.addresses = idxs[0]
-	m.topics = idxs[1:]
-	var reqCount uint32
+	// Start the matching session for the filter and the retriver goroutines
+	quit := make(chan struct{})
+	matches := make(chan uint64, 16)
 
-	stop := make(chan struct{})
-	chn := m.Start(0, cnt-1)
-	testServeMatcher(m, stop, &reqCount, maxReqCount)
+	session, err := matcher.Start(0, blocks-1, matches)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to stat matcher session: %v", err)
+	}
+	startRetrievers(session, quit, &requested, maxReqCount)
 
-	for i := uint64(0); i < cnt; i++ {
-		if expMatch3(idxs, i) {
-			match, ok := <-chn
+	// Iterate over all the blocks and verify that the pipeline produces the correct matches
+	for i := uint64(0); i < blocks; i++ {
+		if expMatch3(filter, i) {
+			match, ok := <-matches
 			if !ok {
-				t.Errorf("Error matching idxs = %v  count = %v  stopOnMatches = %v: expected #%v, results channel closed", idxs, cnt, stopOnMatches, i)
+				t.Errorf("filter = %v  blocks = %v  intermittent = %v: expected #%v, results channel closed", filter, blocks, intermittent, i)
 				return 0
 			}
 			if match != i {
-				t.Errorf("Error matching idxs = %v  count = %v  stopOnMatches = %v: expected #%v, got #%v", idxs, cnt, stopOnMatches, i, match)
+				t.Errorf("filter = %v  blocks = %v  intermittent = %v: expected #%v, got #%v", filter, blocks, intermittent, i, match)
 			}
-			if stopOnMatches {
-				m.Stop()
-				close(stop)
-				stop = make(chan struct{})
-				chn = m.Start(i+1, cnt-1)
-				testServeMatcher(m, stop, &reqCount, maxReqCount)
+			// If we're testing intermittent mode, abort and restart the pipeline
+			if intermittent {
+				session.Close(time.Second)
+				close(quit)
+
+				quit = make(chan struct{})
+				matches = make(chan uint64, 16)
+
+				session, err = matcher.Start(i+1, blocks-1, matches)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("failed to stat matcher session: %v", err)
+				}
+				startRetrievers(session, quit, &requested, maxReqCount)
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	match, ok := <-chn
+	// Ensure the result channel is torn down after the last block
+	match, ok := <-matches
 	if ok {
-		t.Errorf("Error matching idxs = %v  count = %v  stopOnMatches = %v: expected closed channel, got #%v", idxs, cnt, stopOnMatches, match)
+		t.Errorf("filter = %v  blocks = %v  intermittent = %v: expected closed channel, got #%v", filter, blocks, intermittent, match)
 	}
-	m.Stop()
-	close(stop)
+	// Clean up the session and ensure we match the expected retrieval count
+	session.Close(time.Second)
+	close(quit)
 
-	if expCount != 0 && expCount != reqCount {
-		t.Errorf("Error matching idxs = %v  count = %v  stopOnMatches = %v: request count mismatch, expected #%v, got #%v", idxs, cnt, stopOnMatches, expCount, reqCount)
+	if retrievals != 0 && requested != retrievals {
+		t.Errorf("filter = %v  blocks = %v  intermittent = %v: request count mismatch, have #%v, want #%v", filter, blocks, intermittent, requested, retrievals)
 	}
+	return requested
+}
+
+// startRetrievers starts a batch of goroutines listening for section requests
+// and serving them.
+func startRetrievers(session *MatcherSession, quit chan struct{}, retrievals *uint32, batch int) {
+	requests := make(chan chan *Retrieval)
+
+	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
+		// Start a multiplexer to test multiple threaded execution
+		go session.Multiplex(batch, 100*time.Microsecond, requests)
 
-	return reqCount
+		// Start a services to match the above multiplexer
+		go func() {
+			for {
+				// Wait for a service request or a shutdown
+				select {
+				case <-quit:
+					return
+
+				case request := <-requests:
+					task := <-request
+
+					task.Bitsets = make([][]byte, len(task.Sections))
+					for i, section := range task.Sections {
+						if rand.Int()%4 != 0 { // Handle occasional missing deliveries
+							task.Bitsets[i] = generateBitset(task.Bit, section)
+							atomic.AddUint32(retrievals, 1)
+						}
+					}
+					request <- task
+				}
+			}
+		}()
+	}
 }
 
-func testRandomIdxs(l []int, max int) [][]types.BloomIndexList {
-	res := make([][]types.BloomIndexList, len(l))
-	for i, ll := range l {
-		res[i] = make([]types.BloomIndexList, ll)
-		for j, _ := range res[i] {
-			for k, _ := range res[i][j] {
-				res[i][j][k] = uint(rand.Intn(max-1) + 2)
+// generateBitset generates the rotated bitset for the given bloom bit and section
+// numbers.
+func generateBitset(bit uint, section uint64) []byte {
+	bitset := make([]byte, testSectionSize/8)
+	for i := 0; i < len(bitset); i++ {
+		for b := 0; b < 8; b++ {
+			blockIdx := section*testSectionSize + uint64(i*8+b)
+			bitset[i] += bitset[i]
+			if (blockIdx % uint64(bit)) == 0 {
+				bitset[i]++
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return res
+	return bitset
 }
 
-func TestMatcher(t *testing.T) {
-	testMatcher(t, [][]types.BloomIndexList{{{10, 20, 30}}}, 100000, false, 75)
-	testMatcher(t, [][]types.BloomIndexList{{{32, 3125, 100}}, {{40, 50, 10}}}, 100000, false, 81)
-	testMatcher(t, [][]types.BloomIndexList{{{4, 8, 11}, {7, 8, 17}}, {{9, 9, 12}, {15, 20, 13}}, {{18, 15, 15}, {12, 10, 4}}}, 10000, false, 36)
+func expMatch1(filter bloomIndexes, i uint64) bool {
+	for _, ii := range filter {
+		if (i % uint64(ii)) != 0 {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
 }
 
-func TestMatcherStopOnMatches(t *testing.T) {
-	testMatcher(t, [][]types.BloomIndexList{{{10, 20, 30}}}, 100000, true, 75)
-	testMatcher(t, [][]types.BloomIndexList{{{4, 8, 11}, {7, 8, 17}}, {{9, 9, 12}, {15, 20, 13}}, {{18, 15, 15}, {12, 10, 4}}}, 10000, true, 36)
+func expMatch2(filter []bloomIndexes, i uint64) bool {
+	for _, ii := range filter {
+		if expMatch1(ii, i) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
 }
 
-func TestMatcherRandom(t *testing.T) {
-	for i := 0; i < 20; i++ {
-		testMatcher(t, testRandomIdxs([]int{1}, 50), 100000, false, 0)
-		testMatcher(t, testRandomIdxs([]int{3}, 50), 100000, false, 0)
-		testMatcher(t, testRandomIdxs([]int{2, 2, 2}, 20), 100000, false, 0)
-		testMatcher(t, testRandomIdxs([]int{5, 5, 5}, 50), 100000, false, 0)
-		idxs := testRandomIdxs([]int{2, 2, 2}, 20)
-		reqCount := testMatcher(t, idxs, 10000, false, 0)
-		testMatcher(t, idxs, 10000, true, reqCount)
+func expMatch3(filter [][]bloomIndexes, i uint64) bool {
+	for _, ii := range filter {
+		if !expMatch2(ii, i) {
+			return false
+		}
 	}
+	return true
 }
diff --git a/core/bloombits/scheduler.go b/core/bloombits/scheduler.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6449c7465
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/bloombits/scheduler.go
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+// Copyright 2017 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package bloombits
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// request represents a bloom retrieval task to prioritize and pull from the local
+// database or remotely from the network.
+type request struct {
+	section uint64 // Section index to retrieve the a bit-vector from
+	bit     uint   // Bit index within the section to retrieve the vector of
+}
+
+// response represents the state of a requested bit-vector through a scheduler.
+type response struct {
+	cached []byte        // Cached bits to dedup multiple requests
+	done   chan struct{} // Channel to allow waiting for completion
+}
+
+// scheduler handles the scheduling of bloom-filter retrieval operations for
+// entire section-batches belonging to a single bloom bit. Beside scheduling the
+// retrieval operations, this struct also deduplicates the requests and caches
+// the results to minimize network/database overhead even in complex filtering
+// scenarios.
+type scheduler struct {
+	bit       uint                 // Index of the bit in the bloom filter this scheduler is responsible for
+	responses map[uint64]*response // Currently pending retrieval requests or already cached responses
+	lock      sync.Mutex           // Lock protecting the responses from concurrent access
+}
+
+// newScheduler creates a new bloom-filter retrieval scheduler for a specific
+// bit index.
+func newScheduler(idx uint) *scheduler {
+	return &scheduler{
+		bit:       idx,
+		responses: make(map[uint64]*response),
+	}
+}
+
+// run creates a retrieval pipeline, receiving section indexes from sections and
+// returning the results in the same order through the done channel. Concurrent
+// runs of the same scheduler are allowed, leading to retrieval task deduplication.
+func (s *scheduler) run(sections chan uint64, dist chan *request, done chan []byte, quit chan struct{}, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
+	// Create a forwarder channel between requests and responses of the same size as
+	// the distribution channel (since that will block the pipeline anyway).
+	pend := make(chan uint64, cap(dist))
+
+	// Start the pipeline schedulers to forward between user -> distributor -> user
+	wg.Add(2)
+	go s.scheduleRequests(sections, dist, pend, quit, wg)
+	go s.scheduleDeliveries(pend, done, quit, wg)
+}
+
+// reset cleans up any leftovers from previous runs. This is required before a
+// restart to ensure the no previously requested but never delivered state will
+// cause a lockup.
+func (s *scheduler) reset() {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	for section, res := range s.responses {
+		if res.cached == nil {
+			delete(s.responses, section)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// scheduleRequests reads section retrieval requests from the input channel,
+// deduplicates the stream and pushes unique retrieval tasks into the distribution
+// channel for a database or network layer to honour.
+func (s *scheduler) scheduleRequests(reqs chan uint64, dist chan *request, pend chan uint64, quit chan struct{}, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
+	// Clean up the goroutine and pipeline when done
+	defer wg.Done()
+	defer close(pend)
+
+	// Keep reading and scheduling section requests
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-quit:
+			return
+
+		case section, ok := <-reqs:
+			// New section retrieval requested
+			if !ok {
+				return
+			}
+			// Deduplicate retrieval requests
+			unique := false
+
+			s.lock.Lock()
+			if s.responses[section] == nil {
+				s.responses[section] = &response{
+					done: make(chan struct{}),
+				}
+				unique = true
+			}
+			s.lock.Unlock()
+
+			// Schedule the section for retrieval and notify the deliverer to expect this section
+			if unique {
+				select {
+				case <-quit:
+					return
+				case dist <- &request{bit: s.bit, section: section}:
+				}
+			}
+			select {
+			case <-quit:
+				return
+			case pend <- section:
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// scheduleDeliveries reads section acceptance notifications and waits for them
+// to be delivered, pushing them into the output data buffer.
+func (s *scheduler) scheduleDeliveries(pend chan uint64, done chan []byte, quit chan struct{}, wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
+	// Clean up the goroutine and pipeline when done
+	defer wg.Done()
+	defer close(done)
+
+	// Keep reading notifications and scheduling deliveries
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-quit:
+			return
+
+		case idx, ok := <-pend:
+			// New section retrieval pending
+			if !ok {
+				return
+			}
+			// Wait until the request is honoured
+			s.lock.Lock()
+			res := s.responses[idx]
+			s.lock.Unlock()
+
+			select {
+			case <-quit:
+				return
+			case <-res.done:
+			}
+			// Deliver the result
+			select {
+			case <-quit:
+				return
+			case done <- res.cached:
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// deliver is called by the request distributor when a reply to a request arrives.
+func (s *scheduler) deliver(sections []uint64, data [][]byte) {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	for i, section := range sections {
+		if res := s.responses[section]; res != nil && res.cached == nil { // Avoid non-requests and double deliveries
+			res.cached = data[i]
+			close(res.done)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/bloombits/scheduler_test.go b/core/bloombits/scheduler_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8a159c237
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/bloombits/scheduler_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+// Copyright 2017 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package bloombits
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"math/big"
+	"math/rand"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Tests that the scheduler can deduplicate and forward retrieval requests to
+// underlying fetchers and serve responses back, irrelevant of the concurrency
+// of the requesting clients or serving data fetchers.
+func TestSchedulerSingleClientSingleFetcher(t *testing.T) { testScheduler(t, 1, 1, 5000) }
+func TestSchedulerSingleClientMultiFetcher(t *testing.T)  { testScheduler(t, 1, 10, 5000) }
+func TestSchedulerMultiClientSingleFetcher(t *testing.T)  { testScheduler(t, 10, 1, 5000) }
+func TestSchedulerMultiClientMultiFetcher(t *testing.T)   { testScheduler(t, 10, 10, 5000) }
+
+func testScheduler(t *testing.T, clients int, fetchers int, requests int) {
+	f := newScheduler(0)
+
+	// Create a batch of handler goroutines that respond to bloom bit requests and
+	// deliver them to the scheduler.
+	var fetchPend sync.WaitGroup
+	fetchPend.Add(fetchers)
+	defer fetchPend.Wait()
+
+	fetch := make(chan *request, 16)
+	defer close(fetch)
+
+	var delivered uint32
+	for i := 0; i < fetchers; i++ {
+		go func() {
+			defer fetchPend.Done()
+
+			for req := range fetch {
+				time.Sleep(time.Duration(rand.Intn(int(100 * time.Microsecond))))
+				atomic.AddUint32(&delivered, 1)
+
+				f.deliver([]uint64{
+					req.section + uint64(requests), // Non-requested data (ensure it doesn't go out of bounds)
+					req.section,                    // Requested data
+					req.section,                    // Duplicated data (ensure it doesn't double close anything)
+				}, [][]byte{
+					[]byte{},
+					new(big.Int).SetUint64(req.section).Bytes(),
+					new(big.Int).SetUint64(req.section).Bytes(),
+				})
+			}
+		}()
+	}
+	// Start a batch of goroutines to concurrently run scheduling tasks
+	quit := make(chan struct{})
+
+	var pend sync.WaitGroup
+	pend.Add(clients)
+
+	for i := 0; i < clients; i++ {
+		go func() {
+			defer pend.Done()
+
+			in := make(chan uint64, 16)
+			out := make(chan []byte, 16)
+
+			f.run(in, fetch, out, quit, &pend)
+
+			go func() {
+				for j := 0; j < requests; j++ {
+					in <- uint64(j)
+				}
+				close(in)
+			}()
+
+			for j := 0; j < requests; j++ {
+				bits := <-out
+				if want := new(big.Int).SetUint64(uint64(j)).Bytes(); !bytes.Equal(bits, want) {
+					t.Errorf("vector %d: delivered content mismatch: have %x, want %x", j, bits, want)
+				}
+			}
+		}()
+	}
+	pend.Wait()
+
+	if have := atomic.LoadUint32(&delivered); int(have) != requests {
+		t.Errorf("request count mismatch: have %v, want %v", have, requests)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/bloombits/utils.go b/core/bloombits/utils.go
deleted file mode 100644
index d0755cb65..000000000
--- a/core/bloombits/utils.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,63 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2017 The go-ethereum Authors
-// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
-//
-// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
-// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-// (at your option) any later version.
-//
-// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
-// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
-//
-// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
-// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-package bloombits
-
-import (
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-)
-
-const BloomLength = 2048
-
-// BloomBitsCreator takes SectionSize number of header bloom filters and calculates the bloomBits vectors of the section
-type BloomBitsCreator struct {
-	blooms              [BloomLength][]byte
-	sectionSize, bitIndex uint64
-}
-
-func NewBloomBitsCreator(sectionSize uint64) *BloomBitsCreator {
-	b := &BloomBitsCreator{sectionSize: sectionSize}
-	for i, _ := range b.blooms {
-		b.blooms[i] = make([]byte, sectionSize/8)
-	}
-	return b
-}
-
-// AddHeaderBloom takes a single bloom filter and sets the corresponding bit column in memory accordingly
-func (b *BloomBitsCreator) AddHeaderBloom(bloom types.Bloom) {
-	if b.bitIndex >= b.sectionSize {
-		panic("too many header blooms added")
-	}
-
-	byteIdx := b.bitIndex / 8
-	bitMask := byte(1) << byte(7-b.bitIndex%8)
-	for bloomBitIdx, _ := range b.blooms {
-		bloomByteIdx := BloomLength/8 - 1 - bloomBitIdx/8
-		bloomBitMask := byte(1) << byte(bloomBitIdx%8)
-		if (bloom[bloomByteIdx] & bloomBitMask) != 0 {
-			b.blooms[bloomBitIdx][byteIdx] |= bitMask
-		}
-	}
-	b.bitIndex++
-}
-
-// GetBitVector returns the bit vector belonging to the given bit index after header blooms have been added
-func (b *BloomBitsCreator) GetBitVector(idx uint) []byte {
-	if b.bitIndex != b.sectionSize {
-		panic("not enough header blooms added")
-	}
-
-	return b.blooms[idx][:]
-}
diff --git a/core/chain_indexer.go b/core/chain_indexer.go
index 56360b59a..f4c207dcc 100644
--- a/core/chain_indexer.go
+++ b/core/chain_indexer.go
@@ -36,14 +36,13 @@ import (
 type ChainIndexerBackend interface {
 	// Reset initiates the processing of a new chain segment, potentially terminating
 	// any partially completed operations (in case of a reorg).
-	Reset(section uint64, lastSectionHead common.Hash)
+	Reset(section uint64)
 
 	// Process crunches through the next header in the chain segment. The caller
 	// will ensure a sequential order of headers.
 	Process(header *types.Header)
 
-	// Commit finalizes the section metadata and stores it into the database. This
-	// interface will usually be a batch writer.
+	// Commit finalizes the section metadata and stores it into the database.
 	Commit() error
 }
 
@@ -101,34 +100,11 @@ func NewChainIndexer(chainDb, indexDb ethdb.Database, backend ChainIndexerBacken
 	return c
 }
 
-// AddKnownSectionHead marks a new section head as known/processed if it is newer
-// than the already known best section head
-func (c *ChainIndexer) AddKnownSectionHead(section uint64, shead common.Hash) {
-	c.lock.Lock()
-	defer c.lock.Unlock()
-
-	if section < c.storedSections {
-		return
-	}
-	c.setSectionHead(section, shead)
-	c.setValidSections(section + 1)
-}
-
-// IndexerChain interface is used for connecting the indexer to a blockchain
-type IndexerChain interface {
-	CurrentHeader() *types.Header
-	SubscribeChainEvent(ch chan<- ChainEvent) event.Subscription
-}
-
 // Start creates a goroutine to feed chain head events into the indexer for
 // cascading background processing. Children do not need to be started, they
 // are notified about new events by their parents.
-func (c *ChainIndexer) Start(chain IndexerChain) {
-	ch := make(chan ChainEvent, 10)
-	sub := chain.SubscribeChainEvent(ch)
-	currentHeader := chain.CurrentHeader()
-
-	go c.eventLoop(currentHeader, ch, sub)
+func (c *ChainIndexer) Start(currentHeader *types.Header, chainEventer func(ch chan<- ChainEvent) event.Subscription) {
+	go c.eventLoop(currentHeader, chainEventer)
 }
 
 // Close tears down all goroutines belonging to the indexer and returns any error
@@ -149,14 +125,12 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) Close() error {
 			errs = append(errs, err)
 		}
 	}
-
 	// Close all children
 	for _, child := range c.children {
 		if err := child.Close(); err != nil {
 			errs = append(errs, err)
 		}
 	}
-
 	// Return any failures
 	switch {
 	case len(errs) == 0:
@@ -173,10 +147,12 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) Close() error {
 // eventLoop is a secondary - optional - event loop of the indexer which is only
 // started for the outermost indexer to push chain head events into a processing
 // queue.
-func (c *ChainIndexer) eventLoop(currentHeader *types.Header, ch chan ChainEvent, sub event.Subscription) {
+func (c *ChainIndexer) eventLoop(currentHeader *types.Header, chainEventer func(ch chan<- ChainEvent) event.Subscription) {
 	// Mark the chain indexer as active, requiring an additional teardown
 	atomic.StoreUint32(&c.active, 1)
 
+	events := make(chan ChainEvent, 10)
+	sub := chainEventer(events)
 	defer sub.Unsubscribe()
 
 	// Fire the initial new head event to start any outstanding processing
@@ -193,7 +169,7 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) eventLoop(currentHeader *types.Header, ch chan ChainEvent
 			errc <- nil
 			return
 
-		case ev, ok := <-ch:
+		case ev, ok := <-events:
 			// Received a new event, ensure it's not nil (closing) and update
 			if !ok {
 				errc := <-c.quit
@@ -257,10 +233,9 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) newHead(head uint64, reorg bool) {
 // down into the processing backend.
 func (c *ChainIndexer) updateLoop() {
 	var (
-		updated   time.Time
-		updateMsg bool
+		updating bool
+		updated  time.Time
 	)
-
 	for {
 		select {
 		case errc := <-c.quit:
@@ -275,7 +250,7 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) updateLoop() {
 				// Periodically print an upgrade log message to the user
 				if time.Since(updated) > 8*time.Second {
 					if c.knownSections > c.storedSections+1 {
-						updateMsg = true
+						updating = true
 						c.log.Info("Upgrading chain index", "percentage", c.storedSections*100/c.knownSections)
 					}
 					updated = time.Now()
@@ -284,7 +259,7 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) updateLoop() {
 				section := c.storedSections
 				var oldHead common.Hash
 				if section > 0 {
-					oldHead = c.SectionHead(section - 1)
+					oldHead = c.sectionHead(section - 1)
 				}
 				// Process the newly defined section in the background
 				c.lock.Unlock()
@@ -295,11 +270,11 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) updateLoop() {
 				c.lock.Lock()
 
 				// If processing succeeded and no reorgs occcurred, mark the section completed
-				if err == nil && oldHead == c.SectionHead(section-1) {
+				if err == nil && oldHead == c.sectionHead(section-1) {
 					c.setSectionHead(section, newHead)
 					c.setValidSections(section + 1)
-					if c.storedSections == c.knownSections && updateMsg {
-						updateMsg = false
+					if c.storedSections == c.knownSections && updating {
+						updating = false
 						c.log.Info("Finished upgrading chain index")
 					}
 
@@ -336,7 +311,7 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) processSection(section uint64, lastHead common.Hash) (com
 	c.log.Trace("Processing new chain section", "section", section)
 
 	// Reset and partial processing
-	c.backend.Reset(section, lastHead)
+	c.backend.Reset(section)
 
 	for number := section * c.sectionSize; number < (section+1)*c.sectionSize; number++ {
 		hash := GetCanonicalHash(c.chainDb, number)
@@ -366,7 +341,7 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) Sections() (uint64, uint64, common.Hash) {
 	c.lock.Lock()
 	defer c.lock.Unlock()
 
-	return c.storedSections, c.storedSections*c.sectionSize - 1, c.SectionHead(c.storedSections - 1)
+	return c.storedSections, c.storedSections*c.sectionSize - 1, c.sectionHead(c.storedSections - 1)
 }
 
 // AddChildIndexer adds a child ChainIndexer that can use the output of this one
@@ -408,7 +383,7 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) setValidSections(sections uint64) {
 
 // sectionHead retrieves the last block hash of a processed section from the
 // index database.
-func (c *ChainIndexer) SectionHead(section uint64) common.Hash {
+func (c *ChainIndexer) sectionHead(section uint64) common.Hash {
 	var data [8]byte
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(data[:], section)
 
diff --git a/core/chain_indexer_test.go b/core/chain_indexer_test.go
index 247f52cf9..b761e8a5b 100644
--- a/core/chain_indexer_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_indexer_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 )
@@ -209,7 +208,7 @@ func (b *testChainIndexBackend) reorg(headNum uint64) uint64 {
 	return b.stored * b.indexer.sectionSize
 }
 
-func (b *testChainIndexBackend) Reset(section uint64, lastSectionHead common.Hash) {
+func (b *testChainIndexBackend) Reset(section uint64) {
 	b.section = section
 	b.headerCnt = 0
 }
diff --git a/core/database_util.go b/core/database_util.go
index 179d6f1b2..989071104 100644
--- a/core/database_util.go
+++ b/core/database_util.go
@@ -33,21 +33,41 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
+// DatabaseReader wraps the Get method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseReader interface {
+	Get(key []byte) (value []byte, err error)
+}
+
+// DatabaseWriter wraps the Put method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseWriter interface {
+	Put(key, value []byte) error
+}
+
+// DatabaseDeleter wraps the Delete method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseDeleter interface {
+	Delete(key []byte) error
+}
+
 var (
 	headHeaderKey = []byte("LastHeader")
 	headBlockKey  = []byte("LastBlock")
 	headFastKey   = []byte("LastFast")
 
-	headerPrefix        = []byte("h")   // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> header
-	tdSuffix            = []byte("t")   // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + tdSuffix -> td
-	numSuffix           = []byte("n")   // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + numSuffix -> hash
-	blockHashPrefix     = []byte("H")   // blockHashPrefix + hash -> num (uint64 big endian)
-	bodyPrefix          = []byte("b")   // bodyPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block body
-	blockReceiptsPrefix = []byte("r")   // blockReceiptsPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block receipts
-	lookupPrefix        = []byte("l")   // lookupPrefix + hash -> transaction/receipt lookup metadata
-	preimagePrefix      = "secure-key-" // preimagePrefix + hash -> preimage
+	// Data item prefixes (use single byte to avoid mixing data types, avoid `i`).
+	headerPrefix        = []byte("h") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> header
+	tdSuffix            = []byte("t") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + tdSuffix -> td
+	numSuffix           = []byte("n") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + numSuffix -> hash
+	blockHashPrefix     = []byte("H") // blockHashPrefix + hash -> num (uint64 big endian)
+	bodyPrefix          = []byte("b") // bodyPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block body
+	blockReceiptsPrefix = []byte("r") // blockReceiptsPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block receipts
+	lookupPrefix        = []byte("l") // lookupPrefix + hash -> transaction/receipt lookup metadata
+	bloomBitsPrefix     = []byte("B") // bloomBitsPrefix + bit (uint16 big endian) + section (uint64 big endian) + hash -> bloom bits
 
-	configPrefix = []byte("ethereum-config-") // config prefix for the db
+	preimagePrefix = "secure-key-"              // preimagePrefix + hash -> preimage
+	configPrefix   = []byte("ethereum-config-") // config prefix for the db
+
+	// Chain index prefixes (use `i` + single byte to avoid mixing data types).
+	BloomBitsIndexPrefix = []byte("iB") // BloomBitsIndexPrefix is the data table of a chain indexer to track its progress
 
 	// used by old db, now only used for conversion
 	oldReceiptsPrefix = []byte("receipts-")
@@ -57,8 +77,6 @@ var (
 
 	preimageCounter    = metrics.NewCounter("db/preimage/total")
 	preimageHitCounter = metrics.NewCounter("db/preimage/hits")
-
-	bloomBitsPrefix = []byte("bloomBits-")
 )
 
 // txLookupEntry is a positional metadata to help looking up the data content of
@@ -77,7 +95,7 @@ func encodeBlockNumber(number uint64) []byte {
 }
 
 // GetCanonicalHash retrieves a hash assigned to a canonical block number.
-func GetCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Database, number uint64) common.Hash {
+func GetCanonicalHash(db DatabaseReader, number uint64) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...))
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -91,7 +109,7 @@ const missingNumber = uint64(0xffffffffffffffff)
 
 // GetBlockNumber returns the block number assigned to a block hash
 // if the corresponding header is present in the database
-func GetBlockNumber(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) uint64 {
+func GetBlockNumber(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) uint64 {
 	data, _ := db.Get(append(blockHashPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
 	if len(data) != 8 {
 		return missingNumber
@@ -104,7 +122,7 @@ func GetBlockNumber(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) uint64 {
 // last block hash is only updated upon a full block import, the last header
 // hash is updated already at header import, allowing head tracking for the
 // light synchronization mechanism.
-func GetHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Database) common.Hash {
+func GetHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headHeaderKey)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -113,7 +131,7 @@ func GetHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Database) common.Hash {
 }
 
 // GetHeadBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block.
-func GetHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Database) common.Hash {
+func GetHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headBlockKey)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -125,7 +143,7 @@ func GetHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Database) common.Hash {
 // fast synchronization. The difference between this and GetHeadBlockHash is that
 // whereas the last block hash is only updated upon a full block import, the last
 // fast hash is updated when importing pre-processed blocks.
-func GetHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Database) common.Hash {
+func GetHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headFastKey)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -135,14 +153,14 @@ func GetHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Database) common.Hash {
 
 // GetHeaderRLP retrieves a block header in its raw RLP database encoding, or nil
 // if the header's not found.
-func GetHeaderRLP(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+func GetHeaderRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
 	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
 	return data
 }
 
 // GetHeader retrieves the block header corresponding to the hash, nil if none
 // found.
-func GetHeader(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
+func GetHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
 	data := GetHeaderRLP(db, hash, number)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -156,14 +174,14 @@ func GetHeader(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header
 }
 
 // GetBodyRLP retrieves the block body (transactions and uncles) in RLP encoding.
-func GetBodyRLP(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+func GetBodyRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
 	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
 	return data
 }
 
 // GetBody retrieves the block body (transactons, uncles) corresponding to the
 // hash, nil if none found.
-func GetBody(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
+func GetBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
 	data := GetBodyRLP(db, hash, number)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -178,7 +196,7 @@ func GetBody(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
 
 // GetTd retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash, nil if
 // none found.
-func GetTd(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+func GetTd(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
 	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...), tdSuffix...))
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -197,7 +215,7 @@ func GetTd(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
 //
 // Note, due to concurrent download of header and block body the header and thus
 // canonical hash can be stored in the database but the body data not (yet).
-func GetBlock(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
+func GetBlock(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 	// Retrieve the block header and body contents
 	header := GetHeader(db, hash, number)
 	if header == nil {
@@ -213,7 +231,7 @@ func GetBlock(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 
 // GetBlockReceipts retrieves the receipts generated by the transactions included
 // in a block given by its hash.
-func GetBlockReceipts(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Receipts {
+func GetBlockReceipts(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Receipts {
 	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...))
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -232,7 +250,7 @@ func GetBlockReceipts(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.
 
 // GetTxLookupEntry retrieves the positional metadata associated with a transaction
 // hash to allow retrieving the transaction or receipt by hash.
-func GetTxLookupEntry(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+func GetTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
 	// Load the positional metadata from disk and bail if it fails
 	data, _ := db.Get(append(lookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
 	if len(data) == 0 {
@@ -249,7 +267,7 @@ func GetTxLookupEntry(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (common.Hash, uint64,
 
 // GetTransaction retrieves a specific transaction from the database, along with
 // its added positional metadata.
-func GetTransaction(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+func GetTransaction(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
 	// Retrieve the lookup metadata and resolve the transaction from the body
 	blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex := GetTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
 
@@ -284,7 +302,7 @@ func GetTransaction(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, co
 
 // GetReceipt retrieves a specific transaction receipt from the database, along with
 // its added positional metadata.
-func GetReceipt(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+func GetReceipt(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
 	// Retrieve the lookup metadata and resolve the receipt from the receipts
 	blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex := GetTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
 
@@ -309,8 +327,20 @@ func GetReceipt(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Has
 	return (*types.Receipt)(&receipt), common.Hash{}, 0, 0
 }
 
+// GetBloomBits retrieves the compressed bloom bit vector belonging to the given
+// section and bit index from the.
+func GetBloomBits(db DatabaseReader, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash) []byte {
+	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
+
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
+
+	bits, _ := db.Get(key)
+	return bits
+}
+
 // WriteCanonicalHash stores the canonical hash for the given block number.
-func WriteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) error {
+func WriteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) error {
 	key := append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...)
 	if err := db.Put(key, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store number to hash mapping", "err", err)
@@ -319,7 +349,7 @@ func WriteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) erro
 }
 
 // WriteHeadHeaderHash stores the head header's hash.
-func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
+func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) error {
 	if err := db.Put(headHeaderKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store last header's hash", "err", err)
 	}
@@ -327,7 +357,7 @@ func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
 }
 
 // WriteHeadBlockHash stores the head block's hash.
-func WriteHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
+func WriteHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) error {
 	if err := db.Put(headBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store last block's hash", "err", err)
 	}
@@ -335,7 +365,7 @@ func WriteHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
 }
 
 // WriteHeadFastBlockHash stores the fast head block's hash.
-func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
+func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) error {
 	if err := db.Put(headFastKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store last fast block's hash", "err", err)
 	}
@@ -343,7 +373,7 @@ func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
 }
 
 // WriteHeader serializes a block header into the database.
-func WriteHeader(db ethdb.Database, header *types.Header) error {
+func WriteHeader(db DatabaseWriter, header *types.Header) error {
 	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(header)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -363,7 +393,7 @@ func WriteHeader(db ethdb.Database, header *types.Header) error {
 }
 
 // WriteBody serializes the body of a block into the database.
-func WriteBody(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.Body) error {
+func WriteBody(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.Body) error {
 	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(body)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -372,7 +402,7 @@ func WriteBody(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.B
 }
 
 // WriteBodyRLP writes a serialized body of a block into the database.
-func WriteBodyRLP(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) error {
+func WriteBodyRLP(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) error {
 	key := append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
 	if err := db.Put(key, rlp); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store block body", "err", err)
@@ -381,7 +411,7 @@ func WriteBodyRLP(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.Ra
 }
 
 // WriteTd serializes the total difficulty of a block into the database.
-func WriteTd(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) error {
+func WriteTd(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) error {
 	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(td)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -394,7 +424,7 @@ func WriteTd(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) er
 }
 
 // WriteBlock serializes a block into the database, header and body separately.
-func WriteBlock(db ethdb.Database, block *types.Block) error {
+func WriteBlock(db DatabaseWriter, block *types.Block) error {
 	// Store the body first to retain database consistency
 	if err := WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -409,7 +439,7 @@ func WriteBlock(db ethdb.Database, block *types.Block) error {
 // WriteBlockReceipts stores all the transaction receipts belonging to a block
 // as a single receipt slice. This is used during chain reorganisations for
 // rescheduling dropped transactions.
-func WriteBlockReceipts(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts) error {
+func WriteBlockReceipts(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts) error {
 	// Convert the receipts into their storage form and serialize them
 	storageReceipts := make([]*types.ReceiptForStorage, len(receipts))
 	for i, receipt := range receipts {
@@ -454,29 +484,42 @@ func WriteTxLookupEntries(db ethdb.Database, block *types.Block) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// WriteBloomBits writes the compressed bloom bits vector belonging to the given
+// section and bit index.
+func WriteBloomBits(db DatabaseWriter, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash, bits []byte) {
+	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
+
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
+
+	if err := db.Put(key, bits); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store bloom bits", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // DeleteCanonicalHash removes the number to hash canonical mapping.
-func DeleteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Database, number uint64) {
+func DeleteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseDeleter, number uint64) {
 	db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...))
 }
 
 // DeleteHeader removes all block header data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteHeader(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteHeader(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	db.Delete(append(blockHashPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
 	db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
 }
 
 // DeleteBody removes all block body data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteBody(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteBody(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	db.Delete(append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
 }
 
 // DeleteTd removes all block total difficulty data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteTd(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteTd(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	db.Delete(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), tdSuffix...))
 }
 
 // DeleteBlock removes all block data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteBlock(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteBlock(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	DeleteBlockReceipts(db, hash, number)
 	DeleteHeader(db, hash, number)
 	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
@@ -484,12 +527,12 @@ func DeleteBlock(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 }
 
 // DeleteBlockReceipts removes all receipt data associated with a block hash.
-func DeleteBlockReceipts(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteBlockReceipts(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	db.Delete(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
 }
 
 // DeleteTxLookupEntry removes all transaction data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteTxLookupEntry(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) {
+func DeleteTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash) {
 	db.Delete(append(lookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
 }
 
@@ -521,7 +564,7 @@ func WritePreimages(db ethdb.Database, number uint64, preimages map[common.Hash]
 }
 
 // GetBlockChainVersion reads the version number from db.
-func GetBlockChainVersion(db ethdb.Database) int {
+func GetBlockChainVersion(db DatabaseReader) int {
 	var vsn uint
 	enc, _ := db.Get([]byte("BlockchainVersion"))
 	rlp.DecodeBytes(enc, &vsn)
@@ -529,13 +572,13 @@ func GetBlockChainVersion(db ethdb.Database) int {
 }
 
 // WriteBlockChainVersion writes vsn as the version number to db.
-func WriteBlockChainVersion(db ethdb.Database, vsn int) {
+func WriteBlockChainVersion(db DatabaseWriter, vsn int) {
 	enc, _ := rlp.EncodeToBytes(uint(vsn))
 	db.Put([]byte("BlockchainVersion"), enc)
 }
 
 // WriteChainConfig writes the chain config settings to the database.
-func WriteChainConfig(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConfig) error {
+func WriteChainConfig(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConfig) error {
 	// short circuit and ignore if nil config. GetChainConfig
 	// will return a default.
 	if cfg == nil {
@@ -551,7 +594,7 @@ func WriteChainConfig(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConf
 }
 
 // GetChainConfig will fetch the network settings based on the given hash.
-func GetChainConfig(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (*params.ChainConfig, error) {
+func GetChainConfig(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*params.ChainConfig, error) {
 	jsonChainConfig, _ := db.Get(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...))
 	if len(jsonChainConfig) == 0 {
 		return nil, ErrChainConfigNotFound
@@ -566,7 +609,7 @@ func GetChainConfig(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (*params.ChainConfig, e
 }
 
 // FindCommonAncestor returns the last common ancestor of two block headers
-func FindCommonAncestor(db ethdb.Database, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
+func FindCommonAncestor(db DatabaseReader, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
 	for bn := b.Number.Uint64(); a.Number.Uint64() > bn; {
 		a = GetHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
 		if a == nil {
@@ -591,22 +634,3 @@ func FindCommonAncestor(db ethdb.Database, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
 	}
 	return a
 }
-
-// GetBloomBits reads the compressed bloomBits vector belonging to the given section and bit index from the db
-func GetBloomBits(db ethdb.Database, bitIdx, sectionIdx uint64, sectionHead common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
-	var encKey [10]byte
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(encKey[0:2], uint16(bitIdx))
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(encKey[2:10], sectionIdx)
-	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, encKey[:]...), sectionHead.Bytes()...)
-	bloomBits, err := db.Get(key)
-	return bloomBits, err
-}
-
-// StoreBloomBits writes the compressed bloomBits vector belonging to the given section and bit index to the db
-func StoreBloomBits(db ethdb.Database, bitIdx, sectionIdx uint64, sectionHead common.Hash, bloomBits []byte) {
-	var encKey [10]byte
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(encKey[0:2], uint16(bitIdx))
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(encKey[2:10], sectionIdx)
-	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, encKey[:]...), sectionHead.Bytes()...)
-	db.Put(key, bloomBits)
-}
diff --git a/core/types/bloom9.go b/core/types/bloom9.go
index bdc6e60e7..a76b6f33c 100644
--- a/core/types/bloom9.go
+++ b/core/types/bloom9.go
@@ -28,10 +28,16 @@ type bytesBacked interface {
 	Bytes() []byte
 }
 
-const bloomLength = 256
+const (
+	// BloomByteLength represents the number of bytes used in a header log bloom.
+	BloomByteLength = 256
 
-// Bloom represents a 256 bit bloom filter.
-type Bloom [bloomLength]byte
+	// BloomBitLength represents the number of bits used in a header log bloom.
+	BloomBitLength = 8 * BloomByteLength
+)
+
+// Bloom represents a 2048 bit bloom filter.
+type Bloom [BloomByteLength]byte
 
 // BytesToBloom converts a byte slice to a bloom filter.
 // It panics if b is not of suitable size.
@@ -47,7 +53,7 @@ func (b *Bloom) SetBytes(d []byte) {
 	if len(b) < len(d) {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("bloom bytes too big %d %d", len(b), len(d)))
 	}
-	copy(b[bloomLength-len(d):], d)
+	copy(b[BloomByteLength-len(d):], d)
 }
 
 // Add adds d to the filter. Future calls of Test(d) will return true.
@@ -106,20 +112,6 @@ func LogsBloom(logs []*Log) *big.Int {
 	return bin
 }
 
-type BloomIndexList [3]uint
-
-// BloomIndexes returns the bloom filter bit indexes belonging to the given key
-func BloomIndexes(b []byte) BloomIndexList {
-	b = crypto.Keccak256(b[:])
-
-	var r [3]uint
-	for i, _ := range r {
-		r[i] = (uint(b[i+i+1]) + (uint(b[i+i]) << 8)) & 2047
-	}
-
-	return r
-}
-
 func bloom9(b []byte) *big.Int {
 	b = crypto.Keccak256(b[:])