INFORMATION RETRIEVING SYSTEM AND METHOD

A plurality of thumbnails to be used as retrieval keys are indicated by a retrieving key indicating section. Respective feature vector of the retrieval keys are extracted by a feature vector extracting section. A retrieval feature vector selecting section selects, among elements of feature vector of each retrieval key, a prescribed number of elements in a distance average ascending order as retrieval feature vector. A retrieving section retrieves information stored in an information storing section by using the retrieval feature vector. An arrangement feature vector selecting section selects, as arrangement feature vector, among elements of feature vector of the retrieval key, the feature vector elements that have not been extracted as the elements of retrieval feature vector. Elements of feature vector selected in a dispersion descending order in the retrieval results are preferable. An arranging section classifies and arranges results of the retrieval by using the arrangement feature vector by the self-organization mapping or the like, and a display section displays a result of the arrangement.