According to certain embodiments, a method is provided for resource allocation between a first network node (160) associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second network node (160) associated with a second RAT where the first RAT and the second RAT use an overlapping spectrum. The method includes determining, by the first network node, one or more resources of a plurality of resources for use by the second network node. The plurality of resources is represented by a bit string. A message is transmitted to the second network node. The message includes the bit string in which the one or more resources for use by the second network node are indicated.