How to call Controller function and pass a variable from jquery

[eluser]maddtechwf[/eluser]
I'm trying to write a small jquery function that will watch for either a button click or drop down selected. I've got that part covered it just the part of calling a CI Controller function and passing a variable to that particular function.

Here is an example of my function I want to call and the url up to the function name but not sure how to address the variable part.

Code:

public function GetPoints($category_id)
    {
        $points = $this->map_model->get_category_points($category_id);

        foreach ( $points as $point)
        {
            $address_temp = '<table><tr><td>'.$coordinate->Address1.'</td></tr><tr><td>'.$coordinate->City.','.$coordinate->State.' '.$coordinate->Zip.'</td></tr></table>';
            $this->gmap->addMarkerByCoords( $coordinate->Long, $coordinate->Lat, $coordinate->Name, $address_temp);
        }

        $this->__EndItem();
    }

URL Example: mysite.com/map/index.php/maps/GetPoints/

[eluser]Pert[/eluser]
You can use JSON

JS:

Code:

$.post(url, post_data, function (result){
   console.log(result);
}, 'json');

Conrtoller:

Code:

function getpoints()
{
   $return = new stdclass;
   $return->myvar = 'value';
   echo json_encode($return);
   die();
}

I call <b>die</b> because if you get any other random stuff appearing after JSON string then jQuery will fail. You can always make it nicer and add proper HTML headers and what not.