gistfile1.txt

<% form_for @survey do |f| %>

<%= observe_form "edit_survey_#{@survey.id}",   
  :url => survey_path(@survey), 
  :method => :put,
  :frequency => 5, 
  :update => 'savedat_time'
%>

<%#= the form... %>

<% end %>

The Javascript:
//<![CDATA[
new Form.Observer('edit_survey_3', 5, function(element, value) {new Ajax.Updater('savedat_time', '/surveys/3', {asynchronous:true, evalScripts:true, method:'put', parameters:value + '&authenticity_token=' + encodeURIComponent('d9b4e818b91f9d47b23abc1c5d9fc88c79795cc5')})})
//]]>


Or with jQuery:

//<![CDATA[
$('#edit_survey_3').delayedObserver(5, function(element, value) {$.ajax({data:value + '&_method=put' + '&authenticity_token=' + encodeURIComponent('d9b4e818b91f9d47b23abc1c5d9fc88c79795cc5'), success:function(request){$('#savedat_time').html(request);}, type:'post', url:'/surveys/3'})})
//]]>