Data routing optimization

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device, data to be directed to at least a second playback device, the data comprising: i) audio data and ii) non-audio data;

transmitting, by the first playback device, the non-audio data to the second playback device via a third playback device according to a network protocol for communication between the first playback device and at least the second playback device;

determining, by the first playback device, (i) a number of hops to transmit the audio data from the first playback device to the second playback device according to the network protocol and (ii) a number of hops to transmit the audio data via a direct route not according to the network protocol; and

in response to the determination that the number of hops to transmit the audio data from the first playback device to the second playback device according to the network protocol is greater than the number of hops to transmit the audio data via the direct route not according to the network protocol, transmitting, by the first playback device, the audio data to the second playback device via the direct route not according to the network protocol.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the non-audio data to the second playback device comprises transmitting the non-audio data as a multicast message.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the audio data to the second playback device comprises transmitting the audio data as a unicast message.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to transmitting the audio data to the second playback device via the direct route, determining that a wireless signal strength between the first playback device and the second playback device is greater than a threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to transmitting the audio data to the second playback device via the direct route, determining that the second playback device is not a next-hop node according to the network protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to transmitting the audio data, evaluating a number of outgoing ports of the first playback device to identify a number of wired ports; and

based on the number of the wired ports of the first playback device and an associated state of the wired ports, determining that the audio data is to be transmitted to the second playback device directly.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

maintaining a table indicating network devices enabled for direct routing from the first playback device; and

prior to transmitting the audio data, identifying the second playback device in the table as a network device enabled for direct routing from the first playback device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to transmitting the audio data, determining that the third playback device does not have a wired port in a forwarding state.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising overriding the network protocol.

10. A first playback device comprising:

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, by the first playback device, data to be directed to at least a second playback device, the data comprising: i) audio data and ii) non-audio data;

transmitting, by the first playback device, the non-audio data to the second playback device via a third playback device according to a network protocol for communication between the first playback device and at least the second playback device;

determining, by the first playback device, (i) a number of hops to transmit the audio data from the first playback device to the second playback device according to the network protocol and (ii) a number of hops to transmit the audio data via a direct route not according to the network protocol; and

in response to the determination that the number of hops to transmit the audio data from the first playback device to the second playback device according to the network protocol is greater than the number of hops to transmit the audio data via the direct route not according to the network protocol, transmitting, by the first playback device, the audio data to the second playback device via the direct route not according to the network protocol.

11. The first playback device of claim 10 , wherein the network protocol comprises a spanning tree protocol (STP).

12. The first playback device of claim 10 , wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to transmitting the audio data to the second playback device via the direct route, determining that a wireless signal strength between the first playback device and the second playback device is greater than a threshold.

13. The first playback device of claim 10 , wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to transmitting the audio data to the second playback device via the direct route, determining that the second playback device is not a next-hop node according to the network protocol.

14. The first playback device of claim 10 , wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to transmitting the audio data, evaluating a number of outgoing ports of the first playback device to identify a number of wired ports; and

based on the number of the wired ports of the first playback device and an associated state of the wired ports, determining that the audio data is to be transmitted to the second playback device directly.

15. The first playback device of claim 10 , further comprising the function of overriding the network protocol.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a first playback device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, by the first playback device, data to be directed to at least a second playback device, the data comprising: i) audio data and ii) non-audio data;

transmitting, by the first playback device, the non-audio data to the second playback device via a third playback device according to a network protocol for communication between the first playback device and at least the second playback device;

determining, by the first playback device, (i) a number of hops to transmit the audio data from the first playback device to the second playback device according to the network protocol and (ii) a number of hops to transmit the audio data via a direct route not according to the network protocol; and

in response to the determination that the number of hops to transmit the audio data from the first playback device to the second playback device according to the network protocol is greater than the number of hops to transmit the audio data via the direct route not according to the network protocol, transmitting, by the first playback device, the audio data to the second playback device via the direct route not according to the network protocol.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the functions further comprise:

maintaining a table indicating network devices enabled for direct routing from the first playback device; and

prior to transmitting the audio data, identifying the second playback device in the table as a network device enabled for direct routing from the first playback device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to transmitting the audio data, determining that the third playback device does not have a wired port in a forwarding state.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to transmitting the audio data, evaluating a number of outgoing ports of the first playback device to identify a number of wired ports; and

based on the number of the wired ports of the first playback device and an associated state of the wired ports, determining that the audio data is to be transmitted to the second playback device directly.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of 16 , further comprising the function of overriding the network protocol.