[Mp4-tech] minimum # of slices

[Tomo]

Hi
In case MPEG2, a picture cannot be composed of a slice (assume picture
hight is more than 16-pixel).  In case H.264 standard, as far as
Iknow, there is no such restrictions (a picture can be a slice).
I have been thinking how to design HD-resolution decoder within
reasonable design technology, cost and so forth. For MPEG2, I
once designed HD-decoder to implement multiple slice-level decoders
(slice-level decoder can handle picture-level, so 1 HD decoder can
handle multiple SD-level streams in parallel). This worked quite
good.  In case H264, even slice is a good boundary, since a picture
may be composed of one slice, I cannot use the technique.
Then, I wondered, if any product specifications (e.g. HD-DVD, Bluray)
that utilize H264 have certain restrictions. So far I do not find any,
though I found some service prohibits using FMO, ASO and other
features that H264 standard specifies. 
So, even though it may not be a good question to ask, are there
any restrictions in specification (not in H264 standard) discussing
the number of slices per picture?
HD-level decoder design is quite a challenge (H264). Regardless
of the slice structure, deblock filter also makes some difficulty
as de-block filter can accross the slice boundary. 
But there seems already some HD-level decoders, but design itself
is not much discussed.  If someone can point me any papers or
publications, much appreciated. 
Regards
Tomo