Using jquery validation plugin to check username availability

[eluser]sanks[/eluser]
Hi,

I am facing problems while using jquery validation plugin using codeigniter. The remote method does not process the request. My code for js is as follows:

Code:

$(document).ready(function(){
$("#register").validate({
rules:{
uname: {
                        required: true,
                        minlength: 4,
                        maxlength:12,
                        remote: {
                            url: 'user/check',
                            type: 'post'
                        }
},

messages: {
                     uname: {
                        required: "<br/><label class='errors'>Please enter a username</label>",
                        minlength: "<br/><label class='errors'>Username must be at least 4 characters long</label>",
                        maxlength:"<br/><label class='errors'>Username can be only 12 characters long</label>",
                        remote:jQuery.format("Email \"{0}\" have been used.")
                }
}

});

And the code for controller is:

Code:

<?php if ( ! defined('BASEPATH')) exit('No direct script access allowed');

class User extends CI_Controller {
    
                         function __construct()
    {
        parent::__construct();
    }
                        
                      function check()
                      {
                                       $this->load->model('useraccount');
                                       $result = $this->useraccount->check_availability();
                                      
                                       if($result)
                                       {
                                           return true;
                                       }
                                     else
                                     {
                                         return false;
                                     }
                      }

}
?>

code for the check_availability function:

Code:

function check_availability()
                        {
                            $fieldname = trim($this->input->post('uname'));
                            $this->db->select('*');
                            $this->db->from('account_regd');
                            $this->db->where('uname',$fieldname);
                            $query = $this->db->get();
                            
                            if($query->num_rows() > 0)
                            {
                                    return false;                                
                            }
                            else
                           {
                                    return true;
                            }
                        }

Can anyone help me with this?