San Jose, California: US District Judge Lucy Koh asked that the chief executives of Apple and Samsung speak to each other at least once on the phone before a jury begins deliberating next week in the high-stakes patent trial between the two tech giants.

“It’s time for peace,” the judge said on Wednesday in a San Jose, California, federal court.

Samsung and Apple are locking horns in a patents dispute mirroring a struggle for industry supremacy between the two rivals.

Apple accuses Samsung of copying the design and some features of its iPad and iPhone, and is asking for a sales ban in addition to monetary damages.

Samsung, on the other hand, says that Apple infringed several patents, including some for its key wireless technology.

Top executives from both companies had participated in mediation with a US magistrate judge before trial, but Koh asked them to explore settlement once again.

The nine-member jury is scheduled to begin deliberations next week.

“I see risks here for both sides,” the judge said.

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