Dynamically controlled packet filtering with correlation to signaling protocols

A host processor operating together with a network processor to detect packet media streams on a link of a packet network in accordance with a trigger. The network processor captures substantially all packets on the link in real-time to thereby capture communications transmitted via packets on the link. Each communication has at least one corresponding packet media stream. The host system communicates with the network processor to detect respective packet media streams from the captured packets in accordance with a trigger.