Aspects of the present disclosure may simplify the negotiation of resources by defining and/or using sequences for sets of resources for enhanced inter-cell interference coordination. According to aspects, a configuration of protected resources may have an ordering such that a pattern representing ‘k’ protected resources overlaps with a pattern representing ‘k+1’ protected resources. In an aspect, each pattern may comprise a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value to indicate the one or more protected subframes. In an aspect, a bitmap of a pattern corresponding to ‘k’ protected subframes differs from a bitmap of a pattern corresponding to ‘k+1’ protected subframes by a single bit value. According to aspects, an interfering evolved Node B may limit transmissions during protected subframes based on the selected pattern.