A communication control circuit that performs the process of receiving a response to send data in synchronous transfer mode within a certain period of time without using an external control circuit. A permissible time calculation section calculates permissible time for receiving response data corresponding to send data sent to each of communication nodes connected to a serial bus from data length of the send data, data length of the response data, and a number of the communication nodes to which the send data is sent on the basis of communication cycles specified in the synchronous transfer mode. A response time management section determines whether the response data received as a response to the send data sent via the serial bus is received within the permissible time calculated by the permissible time calculation section. As a result, time taken to receive the response data corresponding to the send data is guaranteed.