$('#sendBtn').click( function() {
		var data = {"bob":"foo", "paul":"dog"};
		$.ajax({
			url: "<%=request.getContextPath()%>/save",
			type: 'POST',
			contentType:'application/json',
			data: JSON.stringify(data),
			dataType:'json',
			success: function(data){
				alert(data);
			}
....

@RequestMapping(value = "/save", method = {RequestMethod.GET, RequestMethod.POST})
    public String save(@RequestBody Item item) {
        System.out.println("request body: " + item);
        return "redirect:/result";
    }