Efficient video motion estimation by reusing a reference search region

A video processor, comprising:

• a memory;
• a cache memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and to the cache memory and configured to:
• store in the memory (i) multiple raw frames belonging to a Group of Pictures (GOP) to be processed, and (ii) one or more reference frames;
• load from the memory into the cache memory (i) multiple target blocks having a same block-location in respective raw frames associated with a common reference frame, and (ii) a common search region in the common reference frame;
• and
• after loading the multiple target blocks and the common search region into the cache memory, and before selecting another search region, apply at least two motion estimation operations using at least two of the target blocks and the common search region in the cache memory, to estimate respective at least two Motion Vectors (MVs).