A communication management apparatus includes a token-circulation-order-information storing unit that stores token circulation order, a token-frame processing unit that determines whether transmission right acquiring apparatus information of the token frame indicates the own apparatus and transmits a token frame in which first transmission right acquisition determination information indicating a sequence number of a communication apparatus that can acquire a transmission right in the token circulation order, second transmission right acquisition determination information indicating the number of frames that can be transmitted during one token frame circulation, and transmission right acquiring apparatus information indicating the next transmission destination of the token frame after the own apparatus acquired from the token circulation order are set, and a data-frame-communication processing unit that transmits and receives the data frame, thereby to reduce time required until a communication node that acquired the token frame transmits data.