SET TOP BOX FOR SWITCHING A BROADCAST CHANNEL, AND METHOD OF SWITCHING SAME

The present invention relates to a set top box for switching a broadcast channel, and a method of switching same. To this end, the set top box of the present invention includes: a tuning unit for tuning a signal of a channel selected from a broadcast signal by a user; a demultiplexing unit for separating the tuning signal tuned by the channel tuning unit into a video stream and audio stream; a decoder for decoding the video and audio stream separated by the demultiplexing unit, and then, outputting the decoded video and audio streams to an image output device; and a control unit for capturing the last image screen of a channel, which is being outputted through the decoder, when a user inputs a channel switching command, and then, outputting the captured last image screen of the channel before an image screen of a switched channel corresponding to the channel switching command is outputted through the decoder. According to the present invention, in order to replace the black screen that occurs while a broadcast channel is being switched in a set top box, the last image screen of a currently-outputting channel is captured and outputted before the channel is switched. Thus, a user may experience smooth and fast channel switching.