The invention discloses an audio-visual 
content retrieval method. The method comprises the steps of obtaining audio-visual 
original data; packaging the audio-visual 
original data into an audio-visualfile according to a specific format, and storing the audio-visual file in a file 
library; performing identification 
processing on the audio-visual 
original data, and outputting an identification text;obtaining description information and a 
timestamp corresponding to the recognition text; packaging the path information, the identification text, the description information and the 
timestamp of theaudio-visual file into a comparison data body, and storing the comparison data body in a 
database; and obtaining a user retrieval request, judging whether the retrieval request is matched with the comparison data volume in the 
database or not, if so, calling the audio-visual file corresponding to the comparison data volume, and skipping to play the audio-visual file. Correspondingly, the inventiondiscloses an audio-visual 
content retrieval system. By adopting the method and the device, the retrieval comparison 
database is established according to the recognition text of the audio-visual original data and the corresponding 
timestamp, so that the retrieval efficiency can be improved, and different retrieval preferences can be met.