def get_request_table(self, request):
        '''
        Extracts table name from request.uri. The request.uri has either
        "/mytable(...)" or "/mytable" format.

        request:
            the request to insert, update or delete entity
        '''
        if '(' in request.path:
            pos = request.path.find('(')
            return request.path[1:pos]
        else:
            return request.path[1:]