Serialize form inputs to JSON using Backbone.js

I'm working on RESTful application - I'm using Java on the server side and Backbone for the Front End. The 2 will communicate via JSON.

My App has quite a few forms and I would like to:

1. Serialize the form inputs to JSON
2. Send the JSON to the server

My questions:

1. What is the best way to serialize the form inputs to JSON? Perhaps a Backbone only solution?
2. Once the form inputs serialized to JavaScript Objects - what is the best way to send JSON to the server?

My code so far:

Javascript and Backbone

$(function(){
    $.fn.serializeObject = function()
    {
        var o = {};
        var a = this.serializeArray();
        $.each(a, function() {
            if (o[this.name] !== undefined) {
                if (!o[this.name].push) {
                    o[this.name] = [o[this.name]];
                }
                o[this.name].push(this.value || '');
            } else {
                o[this.name] = this.value || '';
            }
        });
        return o;
    };

    //Model 
    var SignupForm = Backbone.Model.extend();

    //View
    var SignupView = Backbone.View.extend({
        el: '.signupForm',
        events: {
            'click input.submit': 'getStatus'
        },
        getStatus: function(event){
            var data = JSON.stringify($('form').serializeObject());
            $('.test').html(data);
            return false;
        }
    });

    var signupForm = new SignupForm();
    var signupView = new SignupView({
        model: signupForm
    });
});

HTML

<div class="signupForm">
    <form class"signup">
        <label for="name" >Name:</label>
        <input type="text" id="name" name="name" />

        <label for="surname" >Surname:</label>
        <input type="text" id="surname" name="surname" />

        <input ty