what are jre, oraInventory, oui and patches are use for?

what are jre, oraInventory, oui and patches are use for?

 

  

hi dba's
i'm downgrading form 8.1.7 to 8.1.6 and i'm worried by over writing there
directories...
/db/oracle/product/ls
8.1.6 8.1.7 jre oui orainventory pathces_817
this is where they are
and now i also have jre oui and orainventory dir for 8.1.6 should i over
wirte the current 8.1.7 jre oui and orainventory dir or does it matter?

please let me know
thanks in advance
Oracle LazyDBA home page