(Telecompaper) The chief executives of Apple and Samsung Electronics will meet to try to reach a settlement in their patent litigation before a new trial is slated to begin later this year in California. A US court ordered the two companies to submit a proposal for mediation ahead of facing off again in a trial slated to start in March, according to a court filing reported by the Wall Street Journal. Apple and Samsung have attempted mediation in the past, but were unsuccessful in reaching an agreement. The filing said legal executives for Apple and Samsung met in January to discuss mediation and agreed on a mediator with experience in high-profile disputes. The talks are set to take place by 19 February, and both companies' chief executives, along with their in-house counsels plan to attend. Apple and Samsung declined to comment.