Use of shared resources indicated by template frame

A computer program product stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for reserving shared communication resources in a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising a plurality of access nodes, each of the plurality of access nodes being connected to one or more of the plurality of access nodes via one or more access node-to-access node links, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on an access node of the plurality of access nodes, causes the access node to:

• receive allocation information indicating one or more shared communication resources of available communication resources, the one or more shared communication resources to be shared by an access node-to-access node link of the access node with one or more other access node-to-access node links of the wireless communication network;
• transmit first reservation information to one or more other access nodes of the plurality of access nodes, the first reservation information comprising information indicating that at least one shared communication resource of the one or more shared communication resources is reserved, for at least one access node-to-access node link of at least one of the plurality of access nodes, for usage by the at least one of the plurality of access nodes;
• receive, from another access node of the plurality of access nodes, second reservation information comprising information indicating that at least one shared communication resource of the one or more shared communication resources is reserved for at least one other link of at least one of the plurality of access nodes;
• and
• determine whether the usage of the at least one shared communication resource as indicated by the second reservation information is compatible with the usage of the at least one shared communication resource as indicated by the first reservation information.

An access node for reserving shared communication resources in a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising a plurality of access nodes, each of the plurality of access nodes being connected to one or more of the plurality of access nodes via one or more access node-to-access node links, the access node comprising:

• a processor;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the access node is operative to:
• receive allocation information indicating one or more shared communication resources of available communication resources, the one or more shared communication resources are to be shared by an access node-to-access node link of the access node with one or more other access node-to-access node links of the wireless communication network;
• and
• transmit first reservation information to one or more other access nodes of the plurality of access nodes, the first reservation information comprising information indicating that at least one shared communication resource of the one or more shared communication resources is reserved, for at least one access node-to-access node link of at least one of the plurality of access nodes, for usage by the at least one of the plurality of access nodes;
• receive, from another access node of the plurality of access nodes, second reservation information comprising information indicating that at least one shared communication resource of the one or more shared communication resources is reserved for at least one other link of at least one of the plurality of access nodes;
• and
• determine whether the usage of the at least one shared communication resource as indicated by the second reservation information is compatible with the usage of the at least one shared communication resource as indicated by the first reservation information.

A wireless communication network operative to reserve shared communication resources in the wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising:

• a plurality of access nodes, each of the plurality of access nodes being connected to one or more of the plurality of access nodes via one or more access node-to-access node links;
• wherein the plurality of access nodes comprises a first access node, the first access node comprising:
• a processor;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the first access node is operative to:
• receive allocation information indicating one or more shared communication resources of available communication resources, the one or more shared communication resources are to be shared by an access node-to-access node link of the first access node with one or more other access node-to-access node links of the wireless communication network;
• and
• transmit first reservation information to one or more other access nodes of the plurality of access nodes, the first reservation information comprising information indicating that at least one shared communication resource of the one or more shared communication resources is reserved, for at least one access node-to-access node link of at least one of the plurality of access nodes, for usage by the at least one of the plurality of access nodes;
• receive, from another access node of the plurality of access nodes, second reservation information comprising information indicating that at least one shared communication resource of the one or more shared communication resources is reserved for at least one other link of at least one of the plurality of access nodes;
• and
• determine whether the usage of the at least one shared communication resource as indicated by the second reservation information is compatible with the usage of the at least one shared communication resource as indicated by the first reservation information.