US Patent 11057637 Efficient video motion estimation by reusing a reference search region

A video processor includes a memory and a processor. The processor is coupled to memory and is 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. The processor is further configured to select for multiple target blocks having a same block-location in respective raw frames associated with a common reference frame, a common search region in the common reference frame, and before selecting another search region, to apply at least two motion estimation operations using at least two of the target blocks and the common search region, to estimate respective at least two Motion Vectors (MVs).