Systems and methods for monitoring of icon in an external display device are disclosed. Images of an icon displayed in a display device may be continually captured as video frames by a video camera of an icon monitoring system. While operating in a first mode, video frames may be continually analyzed to determine if the captured image matches an active template icon known to match the captured image of the icon. While the captured image matches the active template icon, operating in the first mode continues. Upon detecting a failed match to the active template icon, the system starts operating in a second to search among known template icons for a new match. Upon finding a new match, the active template icon may be updated to the new match, and operation switches back to the first mode. Times of transitions between the first and second modes may be recorded.