A method for a victim base station to manage almost blank subframe (ABS) resources in a heterogeneous network deployment is disclosed and the method comprises categorizing each of one or more protected ABS resources as one of a primary protected ABS resource and a secondary protected ABS resource, the one or more protected ABS resources allocated by a target aggressor base station and one or more neighbor aggressor base stations; classifying each of one or more associated UEs as a fully interfered UE or a partially interfered UE; and scheduling the one or more ABS resources for the one or more associated UEs based on the category of each categorized ABS resource and classified status of each associated UE.