Oracle Apps Patch Basics

Standalone/Oneoff patches : This is used to define patch created to fix single/particular problem.
Mini Pack : This is group of oneoff patches for a particular product like INV, GL, AP and named like 11i.GL.E ( means this group of patches contain fix for 11i GL product (General Ledger till time E is released ) This is cummutative which means it will include 11i.GL.A, 11i.GL.B ….11iGL.D till 11i.GL.E earlier in 10.7 it used to called as patchset.
Family Pack : Group of mini packs in one family buldeled together is called as family pack. they are usually named as 11i_PF. Few example of falilies are SCM ( 11i.SCM_PF.G ), ATG ( 11i.ATG_PF.H ) _PF indicate Product Family Pack
Maintenance Pack : Group of family pack together is called as maintenance pack. So if you say your Verison is 11.5.10 then its maintenance pack 10 ( 3rd digit is maintenance pack ) so

To wind up things you can say

few one off patch make mini pack , few mini pack related to same family bundeled together as family pack & all family pack fixed till that time are bundeled in Maintenance pack .

NLS Patch ( When you have more than one language , like english & arabic or french .. ) then apart from normal patch you have to apply patch for specific language Installed in your system called as NLS patch.