filterlist jquery plugin

jquery.filterlist.js

/**
 * jQuery-Plugin "filterlist"
 * 
 * @version: 1.0, 09.11.2009
 * 
 * @author: Eli Insua
 *          elijahi@arc90.com
 *
 * 
 * @example:  $('#selector').filterlist({
          url: function (element) { return 'datasource.php?q=' + element.val(); },
          resetUrl: 'datasource.php'
          dataType: 'json',
          success: function(data) { onSuccess(data) },
          timeout: 200,
          minChars: 3
        });
 * 
 */

(function(jQuery) {
    jQuery.fn.filterlist = function(options){

        var settings = jQuery.extend({ url: "datasource.php", // string or function that returns one
                                       resetUrl: "datasource.php",
                                       dataType: "json", 
                                       success: null, 
                     before: null,
                                       timeout: 200,
                                       minChars: 5
                                     }, options);        

        jQuery(this).each(function() {

            // store off the element (local scope)
            var _element = jQuery(this);

            // each element gets its own timer (probably not requried)
            var elementsTimer = null;

            jQuery(this).bind("filterlist.clear", function() {
                // reset timer
                clearTimeout(elementsTimer);

                // clear the element's value
                //_element.val('');

        // get the default dataset
        jQuery.ajax({
               dataType: settings.dataType,
               success: settings.success,
               url: (jQuery.isFunction(settings.resetUrl)) ? settings.resetUrl(_element) : settings.resetUrl
        });
            });

            // track keyup
            jQuery(this).keyup(function() {
                // reset timer
                clearTimeout(elementsTimer);
        if (_element.val().length >= settings.minChars) {
          
          // Call the before action, if any
          (jQuery.isFunction(settings.before)) ? settings.before() : null;
          
          // set the timer again, when it expires make the request
          setTimeout(function() {
            jQuery.ajax({
                dataType: settings.dataType,
                success: settings.success,
              error: function(XMLHttpRequest, textStatus, errorThrown) 
                    {
                      alert(textStatus);
                    },
                url: (jQuery.isFunction(settings.url)) ? settings.url(_element) : settings.url + _element.val()
            });
                    }, settings.timeout);
                }
            });
        });

        // chainable
        return this;
    };
})(jQuery);